PDF file: EURASNET Annual Report 2008

Participant 18 – Artur Jarmolowskia) Work performed during the period• WP8All three plant groups continue the selection of new genes/AS events to expand the AS RT-PCR panel. The AS events were selected from transcript information in the AlternativeSplicing in Plants (ASIP) database and focused on genes encoding RNA-interacting proteins,transcription factors, splicing factors and genes involved in stress responses and signaling. Inaddition, some pri-miRNAs were included. The 384 AS RT-PCR panel has been used toanalyse a mutant in the microRNA processing pathway, known as hyl1. In the hyl1 mutant theprocessing of around 25% of pri-miRNAs has been shown to be affected. We have alsoobserved in hyl1 significant changes in alternative splicing of many pre-mRNAs. Our resultssuggest that miRNAs can be directly involved in regulation of the level of a specific splicingisoform and not target all mRNA isoforms. We are going to test this possibility using ourexpanded AS RT-PCR panel. We have also started investigation of AS events in other A.thaliana miRNA biogenesis mutants.• WP17Lukasz Sobkowiak visited the University of Basel, Switzerland (Mihaela Zavolan group) tolearn how to use advanced bioinformatics tools for miRNA investigation.• WP19We participated in organization of the XI Festival of Art and Science, Poznan, Poland,October 2008. Artur Jarmolowski gave a lecture on plant miRNA biogenesis during theWinter School at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, February 2008.• WP21The group organized the First International Conference on Alternative Splicing in Krakow(Poland) in May 2008, and co-organized three additional events: Media, Bioinformatics,Carrier and Development workshopsb) Major cost items with justificationParticipant 1A Type of expenditure Budget total costspersonnel 0consumables 11.867.03training 0equipment 0travel 2.916,13EURASNET56.539,43International Conferenceon Alternative Splicing inKrakow= total direct costs 71.322,59+ overhead 14.264,52= total eligible costs 85.587,11172