MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London
Science for Health
Andres Ramos group project:
Regulation of miRNA biogenesis
miRNAs are short (∼22 nucleotides) single stranded RNA molecules that regulate the rate of translation and degradation of over a third of human mRNAs, influencing developmental timing, neuronal patterning, haematopoiesis and cell proliferation (Filipowicz et al, 2008, Kim et al, 2009). Variations in the level of specific miRNAs have been associated to precise cancer pathologies and are achieved by regulating both the synthesis of the miRNAs precursors and their processing to the mature form (Figure 2). Regulation of the post-transcriptional processing is mediated by a set of RNA binding proteins that recognise specifically the miRNA precursors' conserved loops (Kim et al, 2009, Trabucchi M et al, 2009).
We focus on the molecular features of this proteins-miRNA precursors interactions. Understanding recognition is necessary for the design of small molecule inhibitors that interfere with the binding of the regulatory factors and up- or down- regulate the miRNA(s) level.
miRNA biogenesis
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KSRP targets the miRNA precursor’s conserved loops and up-regulates the processing. (Adapted from Kim et al, 2009)
Selected publications
- Trabucchi, M; Briata, P; Garcia-Mayoral, M; Haase, AD; Filipowicz, W; Ramos, A; Gherzi, R and Rosenfeld, MG (2009)
The RNA-binding protein KSRP promotes the biogenesis of a subset of microRNAs.
Nature 459, 1010-1014 PubMed abstract
Ramos group
Recent publications
Research projects
- Regulation of miRNA biogenesis
- Regulation of mRNA metabolism - ARE mediated mRNA degradation
- Integration of mRNA metabolism and signalling pathways
- Methods to study protein-RNA interactions
Ramos biography
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