A lncRNA survey finds increases in neuroprotective LINC-PINT in Parkinson's disease substantia nigra.Chen TC, Tallo-Parra M, Cao QM, Kadener S, Böttcher R, Pérez-Vilaró G, Boonchuen P, Somboonwiwat K, Díez J, Sarnow P.
Host-derived circular RNAs display proviral activities in Hepatitis C virus-infected cells.What are the neural and molecular basis of temperature adaptation and compensation?.What are the general mechanism of the circadian clock to deal with genetic and/or environmental perturbations?.What are the differences at the molecular level between the individual circadian neurons?.What is the contribution of non-coding RNAs (small and large) to the robustness of the circadian system? What is their mechanisms of action?.In this context, the most important question looking forward are: Moreover, we also showed that the neural and molecular circadian systems compensate and interact with each other. We showed that miRNAs have a key role in providing robustness to the circadian system both during development and in adults. For doing this, we study the circadian clock from a systemic point of view, including studies at the molecular and neural levels. Our lab is interested in determining how molecular and neural circadian components regulate each other and generate a system that is both robust and plastic. This plasticity is the result of the existence of very efficient input pathways that convey the external signals into the core oscillator machinery. Circadian clocks are also exceptionally plastic as they can quickly and specifically adjust to specific environmental cues. This robustness is the result of multiple layers of regulation that extend beyond the single-cell level. Circadian clocks are remarkably robust: they are able to keep time without timing cues and are resilient to large variations in environmental conditions. The current model postulates that circadian oscillators keep time by complex transcriptional and post-transcriptional feedback loops. Understanding how circadian rhythms are generated, maintained, and adapted to changing conditions is key, as several diseases such as cancer and depression are associated with misalignment of the circadian clock with the environment. Are circRNAs involved in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases?Ĭircadian clocks organize cellular, physiological, and behavioral timing in 24-hour cycles.What are the key functions of these molecules in the brain and during aging?.How do circRNAs work at the molecular level?.What are the functions of circRNAs in vivo?.Now the stage is set for the most exciting questions, which we are currently working in the lab, by combining molecular, computational and RNA biology with advances techniques in genetics and neurosciences. We showed that their translation is mediated by IRES-like sequences, is enhanced in response to starvation and happens in association with membranes and in synapses. Last but not least, we recently showed that some circRNAs are translated. Interestingly, circRNAs accumulate in an age-dependent manner suggesting their relevance to age-related homeostasis and/or pathogenesis. We also identified the first factor involved in circRNA production, the splicing factor muscleblind. Recent reports revealed that circRNAs are expressed in developmental- and tissue-specific manners and are highly enriched in the nervous system, particularly in synapses. Further, our work and that of others has suggested functions of these molecules in vivo. For example, we showed that circRNA biogenesis competes with canonical splicing, showing that circRNAs can function in cis as “RNA traps”. CircRNAs expression levels are not correlated with the expression of their linear isoforms, indicating a potentially widespread layer of previously unknown gene regulation. Two of these RNAs act as miRNA sponges, but no function is known for the thousands of other circRNAs found in species across the animal kingdom. Uncovering molecular and physiological functions of circRNAs:Ĭircular RNAs (circRNAs) are highly abundant RNAs produced by circularization of specific exons. We are particularly interested on the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) at the molecular and neural levels as well as the mechanisms underlying circadian clocks. Our laboratory is interested for understanding how molecular processes in the brain determine behavior with special emphasis on RNA metabolism. Molecular Neurobiology and RNA metabolism
Graduate Professional Studies (Online Programs)Īssociate Professor of Biology Research Description Rabb School: Graduate Professional Studies
Heller School for Social Policy and Management