Grant: Canada Research Chairs
University of Western Ontario
$100,000.00
Computer Algebra
EF 2014-15
Résumé
The goal of our research program is to study splicing, function and evolutionary questions related to bacterial group II introns. In a first initiative we study trans-splicing of group II introns in order to address the evolutionary relationships between group II introns, nuclear introns and the five small RNAs that are part of the splicing machinery, the spliceosome. Secondly, we are exploring the various splicing pathways of group II introns in bacterial cells. Finally, we study the dissemination of these retromobile elements by conjugation and transduction between bacterial species. Our model system is the Ll.LtrB group II intron from Lactococcus lactis. L. lactis is an industrially important low G+C Gram-positive bacterium mainly used in the dairy industry for the production of cheese and yogurt. Ll.LtrB was found associated with different conjugative elements in L. lactis: the pRS01 and pAH90 plasmids and the chromosomal sex factor. We are thus studying if the transfer by conjugation of the L. lactis sex factor between bacterial cells can support the spread of the Ll.LtrB intron it conveys. We also study if the Ll.LtrB intron can be disseminated in the bacterial kingdom by various bacteriophages (transduction). After transfer of the intron-carrying elements from L. lactis to different bacterial species, we will study the reinsertion of the Ll.LtrB mobile group II intron in its new cell environment. Reinsertion of the Ll.LtrB intron into homologous and non-homologous sites will be studied. We are also studying the various splicing pathways of group II introns in bacterial cells and their capacity to be fragmented and still splice in trans. This will allow us to address the origin of nuclear introns and their splicing machinery.These studies will address the evolutionary theories claiming that group II introns are the ancestors of both the nuclear introns of eukaryotes and the five snRNAs that are part of the spliceosome and shed light on the importance of horizontal transfer in the evolution and phylogenetic distribution of group II introns.
Programme
Canada Research Chairs
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Ontario, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
1000227826-2011
Name nom
Schost, Eric
Department département
Computer Science
Organization id
36
Institution établissement
University of Western Ontario
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2014
Competition year année de concours
2011
Award amount
100000
Program id
CRC
Program name en
Canada Research Chairs
Program name fr
Chaires de recherche du Canada
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
9998
Committee name en
Canada Research Chair Selection Committee
Committee name fr
Comité de sélection des Chaires de recherche du Canada
Area of application code
9999
Area of application group en
Not available
Area of application group fr
Non disponible
Area of application en
Not available
Area of application fr
Non disponible
Research subject code
2700
Research subject group en
Information technology
Research subject group fr
Technologie de l'information
Research subject en
Information technology
Research subject fr
Technologie de l'information
Partie
0
Application title
Computer Algebra
Keyword
CRC
Application summary
The goal of our research program is to study splicing, function and evolutionary questions related to bacterial group II introns. In a first initiative we study trans-splicing of group II introns in order to address the evolutionary relationships between group II introns, nuclear introns and the five small RNAs that are part of the splicing machinery, the spliceosome. Secondly, we are exploring the various splicing pathways of group II introns in bacterial cells. Finally, we study the dissemination of these retromobile elements by conjugation and transduction between bacterial species. Our model system is the Ll.LtrB group II intron from Lactococcus lactis. L. lactis is an industrially important low G+C Gram-positive bacterium mainly used in the dairy industry for the production of cheese and yogurt. Ll.LtrB was found associated with different conjugative elements in L. lactis: the pRS01 and pAH90 plasmids and the chromosomal sex factor. We are thus studying if the transfer by conjugation of the L. lactis sex factor between bacterial cells can support the spread of the Ll.LtrB intron it conveys. We also study if the Ll.LtrB intron can be disseminated in the bacterial kingdom by various bacteriophages (transduction). After transfer of the intron-carrying elements from L. lactis to different bacterial species, we will study the reinsertion of the Ll.LtrB mobile group II intron in its new cell environment. Reinsertion of the Ll.LtrB intron into homologous and non-homologous sites will be studied. We are also studying the various splicing pathways of group II introns in bacterial cells and their capacity to be fragmented and still splice in trans. This will allow us to address the origin of nuclear introns and their splicing machinery.These studies will address the evolutionary theories claiming that group II introns are the ancestors of both the nuclear introns of eukaryotes and the five snRNAs that are part of the spliceosome and shed light on the importance of horizontal transfer in the evolution and phylogenetic distribution of group II introns.
