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The Role of the chromatin remodeler dMi-2 in RNA processing

figure by Raghad Morshed, created with Biorender

Raghad Morshed

 

Chromatin state plays an essential role in gene regulation and the preservation of genome integrity. Its dynamic nature allows for the precise control of gene accessibility, which is critical for normal cellular functions and development. Chromatin regulators, such as DNA and histone-modifying enzymes, ATP-dependent nucleosome remodelers, and chromatin-binding proteins, contribute to shaping chromatin landscapes and regulate the gene expression (Meier, K., & Brehm, A. 2014).
Although chromatin remodeling and RNA production/processing were historically viewed as separate processes, recent studies have revealed a significant interaction between them. Many RNAs have been identified as directly interacting with chromatin regulators, influencing their binding to chromatin and their enzymatic functions (Zhang, Q., McKenzie, N.(2019)). Furthermore, chromatin regulators and nucleosome modifications have been shown to affect transcription elongation and RNA processing (Jimeno-González, S., & Reyes, J. C. (2016)).

dMi-2 is an ATP-dependent remodeler that modifies chromatin structure in Drosophila melanogaster by sliding nucleosomes along the DNA. Through its interaction with other chromatin regulators and/or transcription factors, dMi-2 contributes to the regulation of many DNA-based processes in the cells such as the regulation of gene transcription. 
Recent studies showed that dMi-2 associates with thousands of mRNAs in living cells, influencing gene expression through two mechanisms; First, RNA binding displaces dMi-2 from chromatin, which prevents unnecessary repression of active regions. Second, the binding to RNA inhibits its nucleosome remodelling activity. In addition, two regions in dMi-2 (IDR1 and IDR2) were shown to be involved in its RNA binding ability (Ullah, I., (2022)). These discoveries suggest that RNA binding is a conserved function of dMi-2 and indicate that dMi-2 may also participate in RNA processing. 

In this project, we further explore the relationship between dMi-2 and mRNAs, examine the potential role of dMi-2 in RNA processing, and evaluate the possible mechanisms and implications within this context.

This project is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG BR2102/10).