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Project

RNAct: Enabling proteins with RNA recognition motifs for synthetic biology and bio-analytics. (EU587)

RNAct creates an integrated and multidisciplinary training and research programme for 10 broadly employable ESRs with versatile computational and experimental skills. The RNAct research aim is the design of novel RNA recognition motif (RRM) proteins for exploitation in synthetic biology and bio-analytics.

This is achieved through a design cycle that starts with computational approaches at the sequence and structure levels of proteins and RNA, in order to select amino acid positions and mutations for large-scale phage display experiments with RNA screening. Viable RRMs will be further investigated at the atomic level with integrative structural biology approaches, and will be applied in synthetic biology, to post-transcriptionally regulate fatty acid processing via RRMs, and in bio-analytics, to detect RNA in-cell and design RNA biochips. The RNAct training will provide ESR-tailored research and education-based training in both topical content and transversal skills. All ESRs will experience both academic and industrial environments, and will be exposed to both computation and experiment at the peer level via an ESR 'buddy' system. The ESRs will be actively involved in, and responsible for, information dissemination and communication for the RNAct project, and will have to opportunity to participate in innovation activities. This will enable the ESRs to constructively contribute to the European bio-economy in both academic and industrial settings.
Date:1 Jan 2019 →  31 Dec 2022
Keywords:protein, Biology
Disciplines:Proteins, Analytical biochemistry