RNA Biology

RNA carries out many important roles in the cell: messenger RNAs encode information for protein production, while non-coding RNAs have multiple roles, ranging from gene regulation to the maintenance of DNA integrity. These functions are essential for development, fertility, and cell survival. At IMB, we study the biology of RNAs from transcription to processing and maturation, and interrogate the role that RNA plays in gene regulation and genome integrity to better understand development, reproduction and disease.

Keywords: RNA modifications, epigenetics, small RNAs, Argonaute, ribosome, non-coding RNA, DNA methylation, antisense, telomeres, germline, R-loops

Key techniques used: RNA-seq, DRIP-seq, RNAi, in-situ fluorescence microscopy, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), individual-nucleotide resolution UV crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (iCLIP), bioinformatics.

IPP Groups in RNA Biology:

InstituteGroupDescription
Andreas Wachter

Regulation and functions of alternative splicing in plants

Brian Luke

The function and regulation of RNA-DNA hybrids

Jennifer Winter

RNA-mediated regulation of gene expression

Julian König

RNA modifications & regulation

Lukas Stelzl

Molecular principles that regulate gene expression by liquid-liquid phase separation

Marie-Luise Winz

Co-translational quality control in eukaryotic cells

Mark Helm

RNA modifications in development

Petra Beli

Decoding DNA damage signaling using quantitative mass spectrometry

René Ketting

Genetic and molecular dissection of RNAi induced heterochromatin

Stephan Grabbe

Skin Immunology & Immunotherapy of Skin Tumours

Sven Danckwardt

Dynamics of transcriptome 3’end diversity in development and disease

Thomas Hofmann

DNA damage & Cancer