Deciphering the role of Arabidopsis SERRATE in transcription and splicing

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Sascha Laubinger
• Subject Area: Plant Genetics and Genomics ; Plant Physiology
• Term: since 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 276820861

Gene expression can be controlled a various levels, e.g at the level of transcription, RNA processing or translation. The essential plant protein SERRATE (SE) is an important regulator of gene expression. The SE protein acts as a scaffold protein that mediates interactions with other proteins and RNAs. Mechanistically, SE enhances transcription by directly binding to the chromatin of its target genes, it promotes primary microRNA processing, it facilitates splicing of a subset of introns and it affects RNA stability. Furthermore, the metazoan homologue of SE, ARS2, has been implicated in additional RNA processing events such as 3’end processing or RNA transport. In this proposal, we will focus on two distinct function of SE in regulating gene expression: Firstly, while SE’s function in promoting transcription is established, we observed that SE represses transcription by an yet unknown mechanism. Secondly, SE forms complexes with the spliceosomal U1 snRNP complex, but this interaction seems to be dispensable for SE’s function in splicing. We will investigate alternative functions of the interaction between SE and the U1 snRNP, which might have important implication for regulating gene expression in plants.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants