Mammalian genomes generate transcripts from as much as 80-90% of their DNA, but only a minor part of the produced RNA is functional. Therefore, efficient quality control is urgently required to make sure that only functional RNAs stay intact. This need for sorting functional from non-functional transcripts is underscored by the fact that mutations in protein complexes that regulate RNA turnover are strongly linked to disease. However, how RNA sorting takes place at the molecular level is not known. With the present project, Torben and his research group will answer the central question: Which molecular features and mechanisms sort so-called polyadenylated RNAs into export-competent ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs) vs. those destined for nuclear degradation?

Torben Heick Jensen is excited about the possibility to explore mechanisms underlying sorting of polyadenylated RNA. ‘A plethora of polyadenylated RNA is constantly produced from our genome, yet we know very little about how ‘bad’ RNAs are sorted from ‘good’ ones. The grant from the Carlsberg foundation now gives us a wonderful opportunity to decipher the RNA-protein complexes involved in such RNA fate determination.’

Link to the full announcement by the Carlsberg foundation
https://www.carlsbergfondet.dk/en/what-we-have-funded/cf24-0791/

For more information, contact

Prof Torben Heick Jensen
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics
thj@mbg.au.dk