20 December 2012, 14:15
Ernst-Abbe-Platz 2, seminar room 3423

Alternative Splicing Regulation in Development and Ageing

Dr. Sushma-Nagaraja Grellscheid (Biophysical Sciences Institute, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, UK)

We employ molecular biology and computational methods to study mechanisms of regulation of gene expression, especially alternative splicing, at a genome-wide scale. Alternative splicing amplifies the information content of the genome by producing multiple mRNA isoforms from a single gene in a tightly regulated tissue specific or developmental stage dependent manner. Alternative splicing regulation is mediated by highly specific protein-RNA interactions involving splicing factors and their regulatory RNA targets. Using CLIP and high throughput sequencing, we elucidate the regulatory mechanism and targets of Tra2beta, a splicing factor that is conserved through evolution and important in meiosis. We are also investigating gene expression changes including alternative splicing, in young, old and dietary restricted mice from a long term ageing study using strand specific high throughput sequencing.