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The field of RNA biology has yielded some of the most widely popularized scientific findings in the last two decades. Not only are many researchers using siRNAs and CRISPR on a daily basis, but we wonder how we ever could have not known about their existence. Yet, these are only the tip of the iceberg of exciting RNA-dependent regulation in biology that will be addressed in depth in this session.

Tracing the life of an RNA, including how it is transcribed, processed and spliced in the nucleus in association with chromatin is one focus. A second topic will be around translation into protein, with a particular focus on the underlying molecular mechanisms, ribosome specialization and gene-specific effects. Finally, several talks will discuss how these RNA regulatory mechanisms are dysregulated in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.

These studies, presented by leading experts in RNA biology, will provide not just a global overview of an increasingly important field, with enormous potential for future discoveries, but also explain why RNA is considered one of the most promising drug targets and platforms. If you want to be ready for the next CRISPR, you will attend this session.

Keywords: Ribosomes, translation, RNA processing, RNA and disease, splicing, chromatin, CRISPR and immunity.

Who should attend:  Students and postdocs who want to hear about one of the most rapidly expanding fields in biology, educators who want to make sure what they are teaching is current and curious people who want to know what all the hype is about. And, of course, RNA junkies who can’t get enough.

Theme song:   from “Aladdin,” because RNA can do it all.

This session is powered by ATP and other ribonucleotides. 

RNA biology

RNA biogenesis and processing

Chair: Olga Anczukow

Tracy L. Johnson, University of California, Los Angeles

Hiten D. Madhani, University of California, San Francisco

Jeremy E. Wilusz, Baylor College of Medicine

Joshua T. Mendell, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Ribosomes and translation

Chair: Katrin Karbstein

Shu-ou Shan, California Institute of Technology

Ruben L. Gonzalez, Columbia University

Homa Ghalei, Emory University

Amy S.Y. Lee, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute; Harvard Medical School

RNA and disease

Chair: Jeremy E. Wilusz

Blake Wiedenheft, Montana State University

Shuying Sun, Johns Hopkins University

Olga Anczukow, Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine

Katrin Karbstein, UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology