Grant: Project Grant

To develop into a healthy entity, each cell needs to grow and specialize orderly and on time. To achieve this, the expression of biological molecules, called proteins, must be controlled precisely throughout development. One of the key molecular regulators discovered recently are the tiny molecules called microRNAs which associate with the Argonaute proteins. Understanding how this new cellular mechanism using microRNAs to control cell fate occurring during animal development is important because altering microRNA function can lead to various diseases. Using diverse and complementary experimental approaches, this project aims to understand how the Argonautes can regulate precisely the expression of the genes in animals. A better comprehension of the role and regulation of Argonautes are essential for understanding how our cells develop during our life. At term, this study will help developing new treatments to correct anomalies causing threatening diseases such as cancer that is a consequence of uncontrolled developmental processes.