The RNA Transcript, September 27, 2021 |
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Seeking U-M RNA scientists to present in the RNA Collaborative Seminar Series
The University of Michigan (U-M) Center for RNA Biomedicine is scheduled to host an RNA Collaborative Seminar on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at 4:00 pm ET.
We are seeking self-nominations from U-M RNA Center members for this opportunity to present their latest RNA research to this international scientific community. The virtual format consists of two 30-minute presentations with Q&A. The webinar will be recorded and posted on YouTube, and discussions are held on Discord. To be considered, please contact Martina Jerant (mjerant@umich.edu) with your name, title, department, and a brief abstract by October 11, 2021. Postdocs and Junior Faculty are encouraged to apply.
The RNA Collaborative Seminar Series was launched at the initiative of the U-M Center for RNA Biomedicine in April 2020. It has been joined by 23 international partners and is supported by The RNA Society. The RNA Collaborative offers bi-weekly webinars hosted by each partner on a rotation basis. More information and webinar schedule.
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Monday, September 27, 5:00-6:00 pm, BSRB Khan Auditorium | University of Michigan, Biosciences Initiative
"Biosciences Community Celebration"
We invite you to join us in celebrating the progress of our projects, hear from the President, and meet the new directors for the Institute of Global Change Biology and the Michigan Center for Infectious Disease Threats. We also are happy to publicly congratulate our inaugural MBioFAR scholars.
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Tuesday, September 28, 3:00 pm ET | Harvard Medical School Initiative for RNA Medicine Seminar
“RNA binding proteins as regulators, drugs and drug targets”
Lead PI, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research & Technology Antimicrobial Drug Resistance IRG
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Monday, October 4, 4:00 pm ET, hybrid Zoom and Forum Hall, Palmer Commons | University of Michigan Center for RNA Biomedicine, RNA Innovation Seminar Series
“Fluorescent nucleoside analogues with new properties”
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Tuesday, October 5, 3:00-4:00 pm ET | University of Michigan, Human Genetics Seminar Series
Rajesh Rao, Ph.D., Leonard G. Miller Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Leslie H. and Abigail S. Wexner Emerging Scholar at the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute, Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Assistant Professor, Pathology
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“Crosstalk between RNA editing and RNA splicing”
"Widespread 3’UTR splicing promotes oncogene expression and tumorigenesis"
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Thursday, October 7, 2:30–5:30 pm EST | The Warren Alpert Foundation and Harvard Medical School, 2021 Warren Alpert Foundation Prize Virtual Symposium
"Getting the Message: How Elucidation of Messenger RNA Formation Empowered RNA Therapeutics"
Symposium in honor of Lynne Maquat, Ph.D., and Joan Steitz, Ph.D., for the discovery of fundamental pathways and mechanisms that ensure accurate RNA splicing and quality control of gene expression involving RNA.
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For press releases and blog articles about your upcoming top journal publications, please
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Our members' publications are available through Altmetric. Five queries are currently available: "RNA," "microRNA," "Transcriptome," "Translation," and "Molecule." Please make sure to have at least one of these key words in your title or abstract. Below are recent highlights.
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Long Noncoding RNAs in Plants, Wierzbicki A T, Blevins T, Świeżewski S, Annual Review of Plant Biology, Vol. 72:245-271 (Volume publication date June 2021)
Abstract: Plants have an extraordinary diversity of transcription machineries, including five nuclear DNA-dependent RNA polymerases. Four of these enzymes are dedicated to the production of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are ribonucleic acids with functions independent of their protein-coding potential. lncRNAs display a broad range of lengths and structures, but they are distinct from the small RNA guides of RNA interference (RNAi) pathways. lncRNAs frequently serve as structural, catalytic, or regulatory molecules for gene expression. They can affect all elements of genes, including promoters, untranslated regions, exons, introns, and terminators, controlling gene expression at various levels, including modifying chromatin accessibility, transcription, splicing, and translation. Certain lncRNAs protect genome integrity, while others respond to environmental cues like temperature, drought, nutrients, and pathogens. In this review, we explain the challenge of defining lncRNAs, introduce the machineries responsible for their production, and organize this knowledge by viewing the functions of lncRNAs throughout the structure of a typical plant gene.
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SMAUG: Analyzing single-molecule tracks with nonparametric Bayesian statistics, Joshua D.Karslake, Eric D.Donarski, Sarah A.Shelby, Lucas M.Demey, Victor J.DiRita, Sarah L.Veatch, Julie S.Biteen, Methods, Volume 193, September 2021, Pages 16-26, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymeth.2020.03.008
Abstract: ... Here, we develop a method for the case of multiple interconverting species undergoing free diffusion and introduce a new approach to analyzing single-molecule trajectories: the Single-Molecule Analysis by Unsupervised Gibbs sampling (SMAUG) algorithm, which uses nonparametric Bayesian statistics to uncover the whole range of information contained within a single-particle trajectory dataset. Even in complex systems where multiple biological states lead to a number of observed mobility states, SMAUG provides the number of mobility states, the average diffusion coefficient of single molecules in that state, the fraction of single molecules in that state, the localization noise, and the probability of transitioning between two different states. In this paper, we provide the theoretical background for the SMAUG analysis and then we validate the method using realistic simulations of single-particle trajectory datasets as well as experiments on a controlled in vitro system. Finally, we demonstrate SMAUG on real experimental systems in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes to measure the motions of the regulatory protein TcpP in Vibrio cholerae and the dynamics of the B-cell receptor antigen response pathway in lymphocytes. Overall, SMAUG provides a mathematically rigorous approach to measuring the real-time dynamics of molecular interactions in living cells.
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Abstract: Non-coding transcription is an important determinant of heterochromatin formation. In Arabidopsis thaliana a specialized RNA polymerase V (Pol V) transcribes pervasively and produces long non-coding RNAs. These transcripts work with small interfering RNA to facilitate locus-specific establishment of RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM). Subsequent maintenance of RdDM is associated with elevated levels of Pol V transcription. However, the impact of DNA methylation on Pol V transcription remained unresolved. We found that DNA methylation strongly enhances Pol V transcription. The level of Pol V transcription is reduced in mutants defective in RdDM components working downstream of Pol V, indicating that RdDM is maintained by a mutual reinforcement of DNA methylation and Pol V transcription. Pol V transcription is affected only on loci that lose DNA methylation in all sequence contexts in a particular mutant, including mutants lacking maintenance DNA methyltransferases, which suggests that RdDM works in a complex crosstalk with other silencing pathways.
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The Department of Chemistry at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, along with the Center for Bioactive Delivery within the Institute for Applied Life Sciences, (IALS) invites applications for a full-time, tenure track faculty position. As the development of new therapeutic molecules shifts toward biologics, we seek applicants who will develop an innovative translational research program focused on the development and/or delivery of therapeutic RNA, DNA, and/or other functional biologics. Associated topics of interest include, but are not limited to, developing stable versions of biologics and smart delivery of macromolecular therapeutics to target locations.
We are seeking talented applicants qualified for an assistant professor position. Under exceptional circumstances, highly qualified candidates at other ranks may receive consideration.
Requirements
Candidates must have a Ph.D. degree or equivalent in Chemistry or a related field with relevant post-doctoral experience.
Additional Information
Evaluation of applicants will begin on October 1, 2021 and may continue until a suitable candidate pool has been identified.
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