Biological and bioinformatics approaches for identifying novel regulatory RNAs in human introns

We aim to identify novel functional sequences and structures residing in the human intronic RNA sequences that comprise 24% of the human genome. Furthermore, we aim to uncover the mechanisms how these novel functional intronic elements work. We will start with the bioinformatics identification of novel conserved sequences and structures associated with certain categories of genes, for example, RNA binding proteins, and the functionality will be validated by corresponding mutation, knock-down and/or overexpression experiments. The study will be concluded with the combination of experimental and computational approaches to reveal the working mechanisms of the novel function of some interesting intronic RNA elements.

Research activities
  Bioinformatics

Participants