Target identification and functional analysis of regulatory small RNAs in Sinorhizobium meliloti and related alpha-proteobacteria

• Antragstellerinnen / Antragsteller: Professorin Dr. Anke Becker; Professor Dr. Robert Giegerich
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Bioinformatik und Theoretische Biologie
• Förderung: Förderung von 2007 bis 2014
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 40014398

We have identified more than 400 candidates for small, non-coding RNAs in S. meliloti, transcribed under varying conditions, using deep sequencing, microarrays, Affymetrics chips, and bioinformatics analysis. The second phase of the project will focus on 212 trans-encoded sRNA candidates and seek for interactions partners of these candidates with experimental and bioinformatics methods. It will study in detail candidates involved in symbiosis and quorum sensing, and use comparative bioinformatics tools to transfer knowledge about confirmed functional ncRNAs to the group of alpha-proteobacteria. On the experimental side this will include techniques such as expression profiling at transcript and protein level, as well as analysis of sRNA overexpression and mutant strains. We will also further functionally study sRNA-mRNA target interactions of selected trans-encoded sRNA candidates. This includes mutational and structural analyses. On the bioinformatics side, new methods for comparative analysis of sRNAs based on a conserved secondary structure, but possibly lacking sequence conservation, will be developed.

• DFG-Verfahren: Schwerpunktprogramme
• Teilprojekt zu: SPP 1258: Sensory and regulatory RNAs in Prokaryotes