RNA Processing

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We study steps of RNA processing, such as 3’end transcript maturation, posttranscriptional modifications of RNAs or further trimming of mature RNAs into smaller fragments.

Prof. AMU Dorota Katarzyna Raczyńska

Principal Investigator

Research

Currently, we are interested in the study of diverse functions of U7 snRNA/U7 snRNP. Among others, we are investigating its role in the regulation of lincRNA and HERV expression in human cells.

In addition, we are trying to specify the interactions of U7 snRNP with two proteins, FUS and hnRNP UL1, in the cell nucleolus.

Recently, we also observed that FUS can be involved in the activity of snoRNAs and the synthesis of sdRNA – snoRNA-derived small RNAs. We are elucidating the role of FUS in sdRNA biogenesis and further the functions of sdRNAs in the regulation of human gene expression.

Interestingly, mutations in the FUS gene were identified in patients with neurodegenerative disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS. ALS-linked FUS mutants are mislocalized in cytoplasmic aggregates. We are analysing the consequences of ALS-linked FUS mutations on cellular processes and U7 snRNA/snRNP functions. It may be relevant for altered homeostasis of glial cells and motor neurons in ALS.

Selected publications

Role of Long Intergenic Noncoding RNAs in Cancers with an Overview of MicroRNA Binding. Pasieka R., Zasoński G., Raczyńska K.D. Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40291-022-00619-w
The Novel Role of hnRNP UL1 in Human Cell Nucleoli. Cichocka M., Karlik A., Plewka P., Gawade K., Stępień A., Świergiel P., Gadgil A., Raczyńska K.D. Int J Biol Sci, 2022, https://doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.75084
Long Intergenic Noncoding RNAs Affect Biological Pathways Underlying Autoimmune and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Plewka P., Raczynska K.D. Mol Neurobiol 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-022-02941-0
Context-Dependent Regulation of Gene Expression by Non-Canonical Small RNAs. Plawgo K., Raczynska K.D., Non-Coding RNA 2022, https://doi.org/10.3390/ncrna8030029
ALS-linked FUS mutants affect the localization of U7 snRNP and replication-dependent histone gene expression in human cells. Gadgil A., Walczak A., Stępień A., Mechtersheimer J., Nishimura A.L., Shaw C.E., Ruepp M.D., Raczyńska K.D., Scientific Reports 2021, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91453-3
FUS/TLS contributes to replication-dependent histone gene expression by interaction with U7 snRNP. Raczyńska K.D٭., Ruepp M.D٭., Brzek A., Romeo V., Rindlisbacher B., Heller M., Szweykowska-Kulinska Z., Jarmolowski A., Schümperli D٭, Nucleic Acids Research 2015, 43(20): 9711-9728. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkv794
The SERRATE protein is involved in alternative splicing in Arabidopsis thaliana. Raczyńska K.D., Stępień A., Kierzkowski D., Kalak M., Bajczyk M., McNicol J., Simpson C.G., Szweykowska-Kulińska Z., Brown J. W., Jarmołowski A., Nucleic Acids Research 2014,https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkt894
Involvement of the nuclear cap-binding protein complex in alternative splicing in Arabidopsis thaliana. Raczyńska K.D., Simpson C.G., Ciesiołka A., Szewc L., Lewandowska D., McNicol J., Szweykowska-Kulińska Z., Brown J., Jarmołowski A, Nucleic Acids Research 2010, https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0380667