LncRNA loci in early cardiac lineage commitment and heart function (B02)

• Subject Area: Cardiology, Angiology
• Term: from 2019 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 403584255

This project investigates how lncRNAs control differentiation of cardiac myocytes - a process that is also crucial for the regeneration of the cardiac muscle after infarction. We uncovered a cardiac phenotype in recovery after myocardial infarction in one of our genetic lncRNA mutant mice, in which we genetically ablated the generation of the lncRNA we termed Sweetheart (Swht). We will analyse the phenotypic details of this mutant and the mechanism of this nuclear-localised lncRNA. In parallel, we will analyse a novel set of lncRNAs that we identified and that are specifically active in cardiac precursor cells, to determine their roles in committing pluripotent stem cells into the cardiac cell lineage.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 267: Non-coding RNA in the cardiovascular system
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Project Head: Dr. Phillip Grote