Functional investigation of the dynamics of TERRA in cancer cells

The research project is focused on the study of TERRA (Telomeric Repeat containing RNA) dynamics in cancer cells to understand the relationship between cancer and telomere. TERRA long noncoding RNAs have been proposed to play important roles in telomere biology. However, the dynamics of TERRA molecules are yet to be elucidated. Indeed, in human cells, it is still not known whether TERRA associates with its telomere of origin (in cis) or it localizes on different chromosomes (in trans). Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of TERRA molecules will be critical to define their function and regulation in cells. In my research project, I plan to combine the MS2-GFP system in previous generated model (AGS 15qTERRA MS2 clones) with a recently developed approach based on the CRISPR/dCas9 system to visualize both telomere 15q TERRA transcripts and their telomere of origin in living cells. Simultaneous imaging of the MS2-tagged telomere 15q TERRA transcripts, using the MS2-GFP system, and the sub-telomere 15q, by co-expression of a fluorescent dCas9 and the appropriate guide RNA, will enable us to investigate the localization of telomere 15q TERRA and its telomere of origin in living cells.

Faculty Supervisor:

Pascal Chartrand

Student:

Partner:

University of Trento

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

Université de Montréal

Program: