Functions of long noncoding RNAs

In order to understand lncRNA function, we established in the lab several experimental systems where we can perturb and activate lncRNA expression using RNAi, CRISPR/Cas9 editing, or CRISPR interference:

• Differentiation of human and mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into neuronal progenitors and neurons (Hezroni et al. EMBO Reports 2020)
• Differentiation of human ESCs into various cells of the endodermal lineage (Degani et al. PLoS Genetics 2021)
• Transgenic mouse animals (lncRNA knockouts) (Perry et al. Molecular Cell 2018, Rom et al. 2019, and Perry et al. Cell Reports 2023)
• Neuronal activation and regeneration in culture (Perry et al. Molecular Cell 2018)
• Memory formation in the central nervous system (Perry et al. Cell Reports 2023)
• Response of breast cancer cells to signaling cues

In these systems, we target several carefully selected and conserved lncRNAs and measure the effects on the organismal, cellular and molecular level.