Online lecture: Hana Cahová – RNA modifications: What we know and what we don't know about another layer of information

This talk is an activity from the FEBS Junior Section, an initiative set up by students and young researchers from some of the FEBS Constituent Societies.

RNA modifications add an intricate layer of gene regulation, influencing a range of RNA types, including mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, and ncRNA. This layer includes not only well-studied modifications like m6A, pseudouridine, and 5-methylcytosine but also non-canonical RNA caps that may critically affect RNA localization, stability, and recognition by proteins. New detection methods, such as high-throughput sequencing, mass spectrometry, and chemical labeling, have improved our ability to map these modifications. However, many aspects remain unclear, particularly concerning the diversity of RNA modifications across cell types and conditions. The functional interplay between modifications and the specific roles of non-canonical caps are not yet fully understood. There are also challenges in detecting low-abundance modifications and in accurately quantifying them in cellular environments. Further exploration into RNA modifications, especially non-canonical caps, could illuminate new pathways for gene regulation and potential therapeutic targets in disease.

Hana received her PhD from UCT Prague and IOCB Prague in organic chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Michal Hocek. She focused on the enzymatic synthesis of modified DNA for bioanalytical applications. In 2011, she was awarded an Alexander von Humboldt fellowship and joined the laboratory of Prof. Andres Jäschke at Heidelberg University. As a postdoctoral fellow, she worked on photoswitchable DNA and developed NAD captureSeq for the identification of NAD-RNA in all types of cells. Since 2016, she has led the Junior Research Group in Chemical Biology of Nucleic Acids at IOCB Prague. Together with her team, she focuses on understanding the role of RNA caps in various systems. In 2022, she received an ERC Starting Grant for the project StressRNaction.