EMBO Workshop — RNA localization and local translation

RNA is one of the building blocks of life and the mechanisms underlying RNA metabolism are critical for all cellular functions. In recent years, exciting discoveries have shown that targeting mRNAs to subcellular compartments and local translation plays a major role in controlling protein function from unicellular organisms to humans. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating mRNA localization and local translation, and their coordination to produce complex cellular behaviours, remain poorly understood. Interest in this field has increased with high-profile discoveries of liquid- or gel-like properties of mRNPs and the relationship of altered RNA granule assembly and localization to neurological and ageing-related disorders. Remarkable technological developments have allowed visualization of individual transcripts and their translation in single cells and in living organisms. This EMBO Workshop will bring together scientists from different fields and with complementary technical expertise to discuss recent discoveries in mRNA localization and local translation and build new collaborations to advance our understanding of these processes.