Notice Board

The Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute (ARRTI) presents the ARRTI Speaker Series, a monthly lecture series open to the public and established to bring leading researchers to the University of Lethbridge for lectures on a broad range of topics relating to RNA research.

The Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute Presents:

Dr. Martin Holcik

Director - Molecular Biomedicine Program
Apoptosis Research Centre
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

"RNA Binding Proteins - It Is All About Location"

An ARRTI Speaker Series Lecture

Thursday, May 21st, 2015

3:00pm - 4:00pm

B660 (University Hall)

All are welcome!

Abstract:

Regulation of protein expression through RNA metabolism is a key aspect of cellular homeostasis. Upon specific cellular stresses, distinct transcripts are selectively controlled to modify protein output in order to quickly, appropriately and reversibly respond to stress. This is accomplished through a large assortment of specialized RNA binding proteins (RBPs) which control diverse aspects of RNA metabolism ranging from mRNA processing to export, translation and degradation. Frequently, the same RBP can exhibit multiple roles which are dependent on its subcellular localization within the cell, suggesting that the diverse roles of RBPs in mRNA metabolism are controlled, at least in part, by the compartmentalization of these proteins. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) is one such RBP which normally shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, with the bulk of the protein displaying nuclear localization. During cellular stress, however, the accumulation of hnRNP A1 in the cytoplasm has different consequences for distinct mRNAs, augmenting expression of some while repressing expression of other mRNAs.

To systematically identify factors and pathways involved in hnRNP A1 localization we set out to determine the signaling molecules that regulation localization of hnNPR A1, and the biological consequences of this regulation. We screened a library of siRNA pools targeting the kinome subset of the human genome and identified several candidate kinases that regulate cytoplasmic accumulation of hnRNP A1 in response to hypertonic stress., The results of the stress and the biological consequences of interference with hnRNP A1 localization will be presented and discussed. 

About Dr. Holcik:

Dr. Martin Holcik is Senior Scientist at the Apoptosis Research Center of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Ottawa, and Director of the Molecular Biomedicine Program of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute. Dr. Holcik received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the Univerzita Komenskeho (Bratislava, Slovak Republic), followed by Ph.D. from Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada). Dr. Holcik is a recipient of numerous awards including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator Award (2001), Premier’s Research Excellence Award (2004), Faculty of Medicine Young Professor Award (2007), the University of Ottawa Young Researcher Award (2007), and the CHEO Research Institute Award of Excellence (2009). He is a member of the RNA society, the American Society of Microbiology, and member of the Editorial Board of Recent Patents on Anticancer Drug Discovery, Current Genomics, and Translation. He has contributed to ten US patents, three European patents, two Canadian patents, and ten world patents. In addition, he has edited one book, published nine book chapters, 81 peer-reviewed papers in high impact journals, and over 70 conference abstracts. In addition, he has been invited to present over 40 lectures in Institutions in Canada, USA, Europe, Brazil and China.

Dr. Holcik is interested in the investigation of the regulation of protein synthesis, with specific emphasis on selective mRNA translation during pathophysiological cellular states such as cellular stress, apoptosis and cancer. Regulation of gene expression occurs at multiple levels, including translation. Control at the level of protein synthesis (and/or translation-coupled mRNA stability) allows cells to respond rapidly to changes in physiological conditions. Indeed, the repression or activation of translation occurs almost instantaneously, unlike regulation at other levels (such as transcription, mRNA processing, or protein modification and turnover) which entail a considerable time lag, and is therefore uniquely suited to provide the cell with plasticity to respond to adverse conditions.

The Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute (ARRTI) and the ARRTI Speaker Series are supported by Alberta Innovates Technology Futures.