Disease discoveries in three realms
of the RNA world

The RNA world is key to understanding gene expression in eukaryotes. This track will include three sessions describing exciting discoveries in RNA and disease: small noncoding RNAs, RNA modifications and RNA binding proteins.

The session on small noncoding RNAs will focus on discoveries in model systems and humans regarding transfer RNAs, tRNA fragments and Piwi-interacting RNAs regarding their biogenesis, functions, and roles in development and disease.

After transcription, nearly every type of RNA becomes decorated with nucleoside modifications; the RNA modification session will describe novel roles these modifications play in decoding, RNA stability and RNA regulation and activities. It also will describe how these modifications function in normal and aberrant biological states.

RNA functions rely on interactions with RNA binding proteins; the session on RNA binding proteins will describe how RNA-protein interactions regulate chromatin structure, transcription and splicing and how the interactions are involved in development and disease.

Keywords: small noncoding RNAs, RNA modification, RNA binding proteins, tRNA, piRNA, miRNA, tRNA fragments, gene expression, stem cells, muscle cells, development, cancer.

Who should attend: everyone who wants to learn how the RNA world impinges on gene expression in health and disease.

Theme song: “Hello, Goodbye” by the Beatles, because the song reminds us of the life of RNAs in a cell.

This track is powered by different kinds of RNAs — obviously.