SORS: Regulation of Nascent Transcription in Development and Disease

Speaker: Magdalena Masłoń, Maloposka Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University. Abstract: The precise regulation of gene expression underpins development and cellular identity. Central to this process is RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), whose elongation rate influences co-transcriptional RNA processing and shapes gene expression programs. Using a mouse model carrying a slow-elongating RNAPII mutant, Magdalena's team previously demonstrated that transcription elongation is essential for embryonic development and neural differentiation, establishing RNAPII kinetics as an important layer of gene regulation. In this talk, Magdalena discusses their recent efforts to understand how RNAPII activity is regulated during development. She highlights how nascent transcriptomics enables direct measurement of transcriptional activity and elongation kinetics, and presents their work identifying regulators of RNAPII function using proteomic approaches. She also describes how we are applying a range of nascent RNA approaches to study gene expression in Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). Using these methods, they are investigating how an abnormal chromosomal complement reshapes transcriptional regulation and RNA production. Together, she presents thir efforts to uncover fundamental principles of gene regulation in development and disease. Further information here: https://www.bsc.es/research-and-devel...