The Epitranscriptome

The regulation of the transcriptome is key to cellular processes that underpin cell biology, development and tissue function. All classes of cellular RNA are subject to post-transcriptional modification, be it by direct chemical modification, editing or non-templated nucleotide additions. It is now emerging that the modification status of the transcriptome is dynamic and responsive to environmental/developmental cues. Together, this has elicited the realisation of an ‘epitranscriptome’ where post-transcriptional RNA modification coupled with recruitment of effector RNA binding proteins dynamically regulates genomic output. Importantly, mutations in setting or reading RNA modifications are causative of many human diseases or congenital disorders. This meeting aims to explore all aspects of this emerging topic, from methods development to molecular mechanism. Most importantly, the meeting will place an emphasis on the contribution of RNA modification to mammalian development, tissue homeostasis and disease.

Topics: RNA modification I (m6A), RNA modifications in stem cells and development, RNA modification II (m5C, m1A, 3’ terminal additions, etc), RNA modification pathways in physiology and pathology, Emerging concepts