RNA SILENCING · Dissection of an evolutionary conserved RNA silencing mechanism in Arabidopsis
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2005-09-01 → 2007-08-31
- EU contribution
- €165,396
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- IIF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - RNA SILENCING (Dissection of an evolutionary conserved RNA silencing mechanism in Arabidopsis)
In this project we discovered new components required for ribonucleic acid (RNA) silencing in plants. By understanding the components, we could utilise RNA silencing to regulate genes that were important for increased agricultural production. In addition, we identified millions of small RNA molecules which were the cleavage products of RNA silencing. These small RNAs would allow us to appreciate the full spectrum of genes being regulated by RNA silencing. In turn, we could ask further questions, such as: 1. why were some genes regulated by RNA silencing and others not? 2. could we manipulate these small RNAs to improve plant growth and production? This project provided exciting data that were anticipated to allow us to make further discoveries in RNA silencing and thus move towards improved plant production.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
RNA-based silencing mechanisms were first recognised from descriptions of co-suppression in transgenic plants and of RNA interference with double stranded RNA in C. elegans. Recently it had become apparent that both experimental silencing mechanisms recapi tulate a natural evolutionary conserved RNA-mediated silencing mechanism. This mechanism is present in all phyla of eukaryotes and can be placed in at least three pathways: 1) cytoplasmic short interfering (si)RNA silencing, 2) micro (mi)RNA silencing, and 3) nuclear siRNA silencing. Argonaute (AGO) proteins have been implicated with all three RNA silencing pathways in plants, animals and fungi. It seems likely that AGO proteins are integral components of the RNA silencing mechanism. In this proposal it is proposed to further investigate silencing pathways by focussing on the AGO proteins in Arabidopsis.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- THE SAINSBURY LABORATORY · NORWICHCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union