Quantitative investigation of the control of mRNA degradation in Drosophila early embryogenesis and the impact of stability on developmental processes

Gene expression allows organisms to convert the genetic code in their DNA into proteins which carry out specialised functions in cells.

In early embryonic development, cells tailor their gene expression programme to make specific sets of proteins which allow them to transform into a particular type of cell, for example, a skin cell or a neuron.

Gene expression has multiple stages including how the process begins, the tuning and travel of RNA molecules along their journey, their conversion into protein as well as the mechanisms by which the cell disposes of them. My work focuses on these degradation mechanisms.

We will use large datasets and computational methods including machine learning to estimate degradation rates across different genes throughout embryonic development in the fruitfly model organism and understand the mechanisms controlling these. Our findings will be validated using cutting-edge methods for imaging mRNAs.

We will then use other experimental biology techniques including CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering to change degradation rates of individual mRNAs and examine the effects on cell fates and developmental processes.

This will provide us with a greater understanding of how gene expression is controlled, which has implications for many human diseases including cancer, and applications to regenerative medicine.