# Non-coding RNAs and their mechanisms and functions

> **NIH NIH R35** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $633,485

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
My research is focused on two different areas of gene regulation within the context of developmental biology.
One area concerns the molecular mechanisms and functions of non-coding RNAs. Long non-coding RNAs
(lncRNAs) are the most ubiquitous of non-coding RNAs, with tens of thousands annotated in the human
genome. Yet, they are also the most poorly understood non-coding RNA, as only a small fraction of annotated
lncRNAs have been characterized at a mechanistic level. Therefore, it is important to obtain a basic
understanding of how these RNAs work, how they are regulated, and what broad biological functions they
have. We focus on studying these questions in the model organism Drosophila because the mechanisms and
regulation thus far discovered in flies are highly similar to humans. The rich genetics of Drosophila enable
functional experiments that would not be possible in mammals. This award will support our efforts to discover
new principles of lncRNA regulation and flush out necessary detailed information about previous discoveries.
The second area concerns the interplay between gene regulatory programs and extrinsic inputs such as cell
metabolism, cell morphogenesis, and physically-based processes. We combine mathematical modeling and
quantitative experiments in Drosophila to define the links between these extrinsic inputs and gene regulation.
We generate substantial technical advances in quantitative approaches including (1) new high dimensional
biological datasets across spatial (cellular to organism) and temporal scales, (2) new conceptual models of
diverse developmental processes, and (3) mathematical models that describe developmental emergence.
Future directions include understanding whether redundant gene activation is a common feature of life
because it affords greater flexibility to regulatory programs to faithfully couple with cellular energy metabolism.
Another direction concerns the inherent stochasticity in biochemical reactions and how that affects the fidelity
of cell differentiation and patterning. Another future direction is to adapt our proven approaches to explore how
mechanical forces experienced by cells within tissues cause changes in their gene expression programs.
Understanding the biophysical nature of tissues will have great benefit for tissue engineering.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10167237
- **Project number:** 2R35GM118144-06
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Richard W. CARTHEW
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $633,485
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-04-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10167237

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10167237, Non-coding RNAs and their mechanisms and functions (2R35GM118144-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10167237. Licensed CC0.

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