[Seminar] Alternative RNAs in the brain by Pedro Miura

[Seminar]

Title: Alternative RNAs in the brain

Speaker: Professor. Pedro Miura

Institution: University of Nevada

Abstract:

The Miura lab investigates two classes of RNAs that diversify the neural transcriptome: circular RNAs (circRNAs) and long 3´ UTR isoforms. More than half of all human genes generate transcripts with alternative length 3′ UTRs. In the brains of Drosophila, mice, and human, thousands of these long 3′ UTR isoforms are predominantly expressed in neural tissue. Yet the functions of these isoforms in vivo have only begun to be explored. I will discuss our new findings on the function and biogenesis of Dscam1 3′ UTR isoforms in Drosophila melanogaster. We have previously shown that circRNAs globally accumulate during aging. Does this accumulation have a biological role in aging? I will introduce our approaches for addressing this question, and explain why we have turned to C. elegans for these studies.

Biography:

Brief bio: Dr. Miura trained at the University of Ottawa, Canada for his PhD and Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, for his postdoctoral training under Eric Lai. Dr. Miura is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno in the Department of Biology. He uses model organisms to understand the regulation and function of circular RNAs and alternative length 3′ UTR isoforms in the brain.