Research Mojca Strazisar

Abstract

MicroRNAs are one of major mRNA gene expression regulators involved in major cellular processes such as apoptosis, cellular differentiation and cell cycle regulation, but even so, regulation of processes in specific cell types, such as synaptic transmission and synaptogenesis. Changes in miRNA function or expression impact the regulatory ability of miRNAs and lead to the deregulation of mRNA genes important in normal function. Variants located in/or close to the mature miRNA can affect processing of miRNA due to changed secondary transcript structure and/or target selection due to the changes in the seed region. With this project we propose the functional validation of 5 recently identified miRNA variants in 5 distinct miRNA genes using a previously established platform employing SH-SY5Y cells as neuronal model. The miRNA variants were identified by mutation screening using multiplex PCR based, massively parallel sequencing of 66 brain expressed miRNA genes in 1128 psychiatric patients and 1140 controls. The 5 miRNA variants were selected based on a higher frequency in patients as well as predictions based effect on secondary structure of the miRNA transcript. With this project we will be able to investigate the importance of the identified variants in miRNA maturation and at the same time will allow further validation of the established platform for functional analysis of miRNA variants.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Strazisar Mojca

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The Genetic Service Facility (GSF) is a central core facility in the VIB Department of Molecular Genetics that offers its researchers via a robotic platform different genetic analyses such as DNA/RNA extractions, DNA sequencing, SNP genotyping and genome-wide STR linkage analyses. Hereto, the GSF is equipped with 1 Biomek FX and 2 Biomek NX robot platforms (Beckman) for automatic pre- and post processing of samples, three 3730XL capillary sequencers (Applied Biosystems) for DNA sequencing and STR genotyping, a SEQUENOM platform for high-throughput mass array spectrometric SNP genotyping. More recently, the GSF has also acquired an ABI5500xl SOLiD for high-throughput next generation sequencing within divers applications. Also the isolation of DNA and RNA from various sources is centralized in the GSF using Magtration System8Lx and Magtration 12GCplus systems as well as the production of EBV transformed lymphoblast cell lines. With an optimized database system LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) and the use of Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN) in a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) environment the majority of data processing is performed automatically and in optimal conditions. Because of the recognition by the University of Antwerp and the VIB of the GSF as a centralized core facility, their scientists can now make use of the genetic and genomic services at marginal cost.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Rademakers Rosa
• Promoter: Van Broeckhoven Christine
• Co-promoter: Del-Favero Jurgen
• Co-promoter: Strazisar Mojca

Research team(s)

• VIB CMN - Applied and Translational Neurogenomics

Project type(s)

• Research Project