Schlafen-related nucleases in worms and man (B04)

• Subject Area: General Genetics and Functional Genome Biology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 439669440

This project will address the function of a family of nucleases that is poorly understood: Schlafen nucleases. In particular, their RNA processing activities in relation to RNA modifications and transposon control will be studied. In nematodes, the function of the recently identified piRNA processing enzyme PUCH will be dissected further, whereas in human and mouse cells the enzyme SLFNL1 will be analyzed. By studying their interactions with other proteins, with RNA and with organelles, we expect to uncover novel insights into the roles of RNA modifications and RNA processing, notably those in innate immunity and genome defense.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 319: RMaP: RNA Modification and Processing
• Applicant Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
• Project Head: Professor René Ketting, Ph.D.