Understanding more about the mechanisms behind the misplacement of RNA binding proteins in MND.
Principal Investigator: Dr Yiran Wang
Lead Institution: University College London and The Francis Crick Insitute
MND Association Funding: £238,936*
Funding dates: May 2024 - April 2027
*Supported by the Lady Edith Wolfson Fellowship Programme
About the project
Previous research has shown that some proteins become ‘lost’ in MND and move from the nucleus of the cell, where they should exist, to another part called the cytoplasm. This movement of proteins mean that they are no longer able to function as they should. This loss of function can have many effects including the corruption of RNA messages created from DNA. Specifically, a part of the message that should be removed remains within the final message, a process called intron retention, which could contribute to the development of the disease. It has also been found that these retained fragments of message bind to misplaced proteins, suggesting that they could lead to the incorrect positioning and/or impaired functioning of proteins involved in the progression of MND. This project will use cell models of MND to understand more about the biological mechanisms that underlie intron retention and the misplacement of proteins within neurons. It will also look at how these mechanisms might contribute to the development and progression of the disease.
What could this mean for MND research?
The project could help to identify new proteins and RNA that are involved in pathways that contribute to MND. Increasing current understanding of the role that these retained introns might play in the disease could lead to the discovery of new targets for the development of more potential therapies for MND.
Resources
Project code: 2324-799
