PhD project of Patrick Barth

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are RNA molecules that are not translated into proteins. Nonetheless, they still partake in a variety of essential biological processes and also take important roles in the complex regulatory system of gene expression. In the last decade several new ncRNA classes have been characterized showing that ncRNAs are a current topic with constant discoveries.

To gain more insight into the complex field of ncRNAs the RTG 2355 was arranged consisting of twelve project groups from different disciplines. This project is part of the RTG 2355 and aims at supporting the other members with data analyses and implementing automated workflows which will be made accessible in an easy to use manner. Consequently, collaborations between the members, spanning the different disciplines, are encouraged.

As part of those collaborations an iCLIP-analysis pipeline has been developed and is still further extended by varying postprocessing analyses.

Additionally, a project in which the packaging of siRNAs into exosomes in plants and their potential cross-kingdom gene silencing is being investigated.