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SUMMARY:The RNAissance:Emerging roles for RNA-binding proteins as effector
 s and regulators of cardiovascular disease - Dr Eric van der Veer\, Leiden
  University Medical Center\, Netherlands
DTSTART:20171012T130000Z
DTEND:20171012T140000Z
UID:TALK87371@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:47770
DESCRIPTION:The sequencing of organismal genomes has made it clear that ne
 ither genome length nor the number of encoded genes are directly correlate
 d with developmental complexity. Instead\, we have come to realize that th
 e innate capacity to dynamically interpret and translate the useful inform
 ation contained within the genome is critical in eliciting rapid and effic
 ient responses to environmental stimuli. In particular\, the modulation of
  cellular function necessitates a versatile utilization of the transcripto
 me. RNA-binding proteins have recently emerged as pivotal players in this 
 biological script\, as this class of proteins intimately guides the post-t
 ranscriptional processing of RNA species\, including pre-mRNA splicing and
  stability\, mRNA export and localization\, and translation into protein. 
 In doing so\, RNA-binding proteins play a central role in conferring cells
  with the capacity to rapidly respond to various stimuli and stressors.\n\
 nIn the setting of cardiovascular health and disease\, it is well establis
 hed that changes in cellular phenotype are necessary for the efficient rep
 air of damaged portions of the artery wall\, while excessive responses to 
 injury are tightly coupled with various pathologies. We have pinpointed a 
 pivotal role for the RNA-binding protein Quaking in directing these functi
 onal adaptations to injury in vascular smooth muscle cells\, endothelial c
 ells\, and monocytes and macrophages. This rapidly expanding insight into 
 both the diversity and complexity of protein-coding (and non-coding) RNAs\
 , and the discovery of an ever-increasing number of RNA-binding proteins t
 hat are involved in regulating these transcripts\, has yielded key insight
  into the complexity of the human genome. Collectively\, these studies sug
 gest that the therapeutic targeting of RNA-binding proteins\, such as Quak
 ing\, in a cell type-specific fashion could ameliorate cardiovascular dise
 ase by shifting cellular phenotype from a disease-advancing to a regenerat
 ive state.
LOCATION:Alice Fisher Lecture theatre\, Addenbrookes Hospital\, Cambridge.
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