Our research focuses on mechanisms underlying the epigenetic regulation of alternative RNA splicing. In particular, we are interested in deciphering the cross-talks between the chromatin organization, and both transcriptional and spliceosome machineries which involve several chromatin-remodeling factors, splicing factors, the RNA-polymerase II (RNAPII), and also non-coding RNA molecules.
Our works have contributed to discover a new function of RNA silencing pathways in mammals. We found that nuclear Argonaute proteins bound to small RNAs are involved in the modulation of mRNA alternative splicing decision by affecting RNAPII elongation through chromatin remodeling.
Our goal is to understand how non-coding RNAs and in particular cryptic long intragenic RNAs are regulated through chromatin/epigenetic modifications and can participate to the regulation of one of the main process which generate protein diversity (alternative splicing). We are notably focusing
– on the role of antisense non-coding RNA in the alternative splicing decision.
– on the regulation of cryptic intragenic transcription through the epigenetic control.
– on their disregulation and their influence during the tumoral progression.
