Genome-wide analysis of RNA-recognition elements in African trypanosomes (B03)

• Subject Area: Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Term: from 2011 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 161793742

African trypanosomes represent medically important parasites that cause African Sleeping Sickness. The parasites are single cell eukaryotic organisms that execute several unusual RNA-based phenomena (trans-splicing, RNA editing etc.), which rely on RNA-interacting polypeptides and RNA-regulatory elements to shape the structure of all gene regulatory networks. Here, we propose to decipher the putative mRNA recognition elements in trypanosomes in a ¿genome-wide¿ analysis. We suggest to globally probe mRNA secondary structure combining in vitro and in vivo approaches. The results will be scrutinized whether they can be used to design RNA-based, parasite-specific therapeutic intervention strategies.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 902: Molecular Principles of RNA-based Regulation
• Applicant Institution: Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
• Co-Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Darmstadt
• Project Head: Professor Dr. H. Ulrich Göringer