RNA DYNAMICS IN  THE EMBRYO

The beginning of a new life is one of the most enigmatic and dynamic events in Biology. Right after fertilization, multiple cell division occur without any contribution of the transcriptionally silent genome. Therefore, the first embryonic processes are organized at post-transcriptional level. Our laboratory focuses on the study of how small RNA and RNA-binding proteins regulate mRNA stability and decay. To this end, we use zebrafish as a model system to dissect the process of post-transcriptional reprogramming within the context of a whole organism. The combination of fish embryo microinjections, together with powerful genetic, genomic, and proteomic approaches provides a unique platform to address this central question in biology.