RNA surveillance and the initial steps of RNA biogenesis

Although less than 5% of our genome encodes proteins, almost the entire genome is transcribed to RNA. A large portion of these transcripts are degraded during the early steps of RNA biogenesis by the RNA surveillance machinery, but the mechanism for the recognition and degradation of these transcripts is not understood. New evidence suggests that the chromatin environment of the transcribed locus plays an important role in this process. The major aim of this proposal is to understand the initial steps of RNA biogenesis and how this process is linked to the chromatin environment. This knowledge will lead to significant benefits in the implementation of emerging RNA-based technologies and in understanding how genome stability is maintained.