[bioundgrd] invitation to attend undergrad course on non-coding RNAs

[Joyce Roberge]

Dear Bio undergrads and all other interested undergraduate students,


We would like to invite you to attend our course 7.344 'Beyond the code: Emerging Roles of Non-coding RNAs in the Regulation of Gene Expression
'. It is part of the Advanced Undergrad Seminar Series and focusses on the exciting new perspectives and concepts that the scientific community is currently developing based on the study of non-coding RNAs. For more details please see the course description below, and please feel free to email us with any questions. Class starts on Wed 02/05, but students interested in joining after that date are welcome, too. Class time is still flexible and will be decided upon according to participants' preferences.

Thank you!

Best,
Jessica and Johanna

(hurt at mit.edu<mailto:hurt at mit.edu>, josch at mit.edu<mailto:josch at mit.edu>)


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7.344 Beyond the Code: Emerging Roles of Non-coding RNAs in the Regulation of Gene Expression

Instructors: Johanna Scheuermann (josch at mit.edu<mailto:josch at mit.edu>, 4-5094; laboratory of Laurie Boyer)
    Jessica Hurt (hurt at mit.edu<mailto:hurt at mit.edu>, 3-6726; laboratory of Chris Burge)
Spring 2014. Wednesdays, 3 – 5 pm. (Class time is flexible.) Room 68-150.
Course description
The central dogma of biology, “DNA makes RNA makes protein,” reflects the function of RNA primarily as a messenger molecule linking the storage of genetic information in DNA to its output as protein. However, recent groundbreaking research has revealed that only a small fraction of all mammalian RNA molecules is actually translated into protein. Seeking the biological roles of this newly appreciated population of non-coding RNAs has quickly emerged as a novel horizon in the RNA field. We now know that many classes of non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, exist and play critical roles as regulatory molecules in the cell. Collectively, these RNA species are involved in every layer of the regulation of gene expression, often employing novel and unexpected molecular strategies. Numerous studies are underway with the goal of deciphering the many functions of non-coding RNAs in controlling differentiation, development, and tissue homeostasis. In this course we will discuss the classes of non-coding RNAs and differences between coding and non-coding transcripts. We will learn about mechanisms by which non-coding RNAs control gene expression, from the level of transcription and chromatin to the regulation of later steps in mRNA biogenesis, including transcription, splicing, polyadenylation and decay. For example, we will learn how microRNAs target specific mRNAs to inhibit protein synthesis and how incorrect expression of these RNAs can have dramatic consequences on cell differentiation and proliferation. We will also discuss how misregulation of non-coding RNAs has been linked to diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease and learn about exciting new therapeutic strategies involving non-coding RNAs, including for the treatment of muscular dystrophy. We are planning a field trip to an RNA laboratory with publications we will have studied in class, so that students will have an opportunity to discuss science directly with the authors and see in real life how the experiments were done. Classes will be based on interactive discussions of the primary research literature and will highlight open questions in the field, aspects of experimental design and data interpretation as well as the benefits and pitfalls of using different techniques to study non-coding RNAs. Students also will learn about current methodological and conceptual challenges in the RNA field.

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Johanna C. Scheuermann, MD, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department of Biology
77 Massachusetts Avenue
building 68, room 230
Cambridge, 02139, MA
USA

+1-617-324-5094
josch at mit.edu<mailto:josch at mit.edu>
[cid:240143A6-D539-447D-A73B-B138A709C38A at mit.edu]



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