This program represents the natural follow up of a long sought and well documented interest of the research unit towards PTB and Raver proteins, which interact with PTB as co-repressors. Deciphering the alternative splicing regulator factors involvement in the regulation of specific muscle exons will allow to the identification of muscle-specific modulators of gene expression during differentiation and adaptation to exercise. It may contribute to the elucidation of the complex molecular mechanisms and splicing-regulatory networks that regulate gene expression in skeletal muscle and identify molecular markers for muscle dysfunctions.
In particular, the project will investigate ribonucleoprotein expression pattern, localization and roles in alternative splicing events that occur in muscle specific transcripts during myotube differentiation and microenvironmental changes. Comparative assessment of ribonuceoproteins expression pattern in peripheral blood leukocytes in COPD will contribute to the knowledge of gene expression regulation machinery involved in the adaptation to physical activity.
