Circular RNAs as targets to prevent cardiac damage and to induce cardiomyocyte proliferation (B01)

• Subject Area: Cardiology, Angiology ; Cell Biology
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 403584255

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed and stable functional RNA molecules. Through broad RNA-sequencing, we identified hundreds of heart-specific and species-conserved circRNAs in murine and human hearts. We characterised circINSR and circREGEN in depth as therapeutic targets to prevent anthracyclin-related cardiotoxicity and to affect cardiac regeneration, respectively. We now aim to gain detailed insight into their cardioprotective molecular mechanisms. In addition, we will identify novel circRNAs through the combination of our custom circRNA-specific Cas13 sgRNA library with in-house developed screening platforms for cardiomyocyte apoptosis and proliferation.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 267: Non-coding RNA in the cardiovascular system
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Project Heads: Professor Christian Bär, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Thomas Thum, Ph.D.