Molecular and biochemical characterization of SERRATE and the nuclear cap-binding complex

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Sascha Laubinger
• Subject Area: Plant Genetics and Genomics
• Term: from 2008 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 84149828

Biogenesis of plant miRNAs requires several proteins (like DCL1, SERRATE and HYL1) that release mature miRNAs from longer precursor transcripts. I could show that the nuclear cap-binding complex, which consists of ABH1 and CBP20, is also necessary for proper processing of these longer precursor transcripts. Furthermore, I found that SERRATE and the nuclear cap-binding complex have additional functions, like splicing, that are distinct from other factors of the miRNA-biogenesis machinery. The main goal of the proposed project isto identify the molecular and biochemical functions of the SERRATE and the cap-binding complex in miRNA processing and splicing,to identify RNAs that are targeted by their functions,and to identify protein complexes that are formed by SERRATE and the capbinding complex.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants