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This project is an extension of our previous grant (“The impact of retroposons on the epigenetic regulation of human genes”). In our previous studies, we characterized over 50 human genes, which were transcribed from L1 retrotransposon antisense promoter (ASP). Here we are planning to study basic aspects of regulation of gene expression: transcriptional interference (TI) and RNA-RNA interactions between sense and antisense (m)RNAs. It is important to note that for TI, only a few papers have been published before and the role of double-stranded in gene expression is largely unknown. In the course of this study we are trying to understand: (1) To what extent L1 ASP can interfere with the human gene transcription if L1 ASP is part of the convergent, divergent and tandem arrangement of genes. (2) Whether L1 ASP-derived asRNAs are able to induce gene silencing, change the (alternative) splicing or induce premature termination of the transcribed gene; (3) Whether L1 ASP excerts its effect in malignant/transformed and/or normal cells. Solution of these problems would help us to understand the basic aspects of gene regulation and would give us a new information about TI and the role of L1 in the regulation of human gene expression. |