BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:De-repression of dormant retroelements during evolution of species
  and tumours - Dr Jan Attig\, Francis Crick Institute
DTSTART:20190712T093000Z
DTEND:20190712T101000Z
UID:TALK127069@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Paula Bibby
DESCRIPTION:Retrotransposons are self-replicating genetic elements and per
 vasive in mammalian genomes. Most insertions are passive bystanders of gen
 ome function. Yet\, individual sequences have been adapted in diverse biol
 ogical functions\, from neurogenesis to placentation. \n\nI will present m
 y work on exonisation of Alu\, LINE and LTR retrotransposons. I have previ
 ously demonstrated that retrotransposon sequences are poised with binding 
 sites for splice-repressive proteins and that loss of these binding sites 
 is a necessity for formation of novel\, lineage-specific exons at retrotra
 nsposon-derived sequences. Alus and LINEs are recognised through multivale
 nt binding sites for splice-repressive proteins\, and as a consequence\, e
 xonisation during genome evolution is a gradual process. More recently\, I
  have catalogued extensive usage of LINE and LTR-elements as part of novel
  transcripts across the tumour types represented in the TCGA consortium da
 ta. These transcripts are recurrently and exclusively expressed in tumours
 \, and I will present a proof-of-principle study that they generate antige
 nic peptides. \nAltogether\, I conclude that thousands of past retrotransp
 oson insertions are in a dormant state\, and suggest that selective pressu
 re acts on the host proteins and/or retrotransposon sequences to maintain 
 repression in somatic cells.\n
LOCATION:Marjory Stephenson Seminar Room\, Hopkins Building\, Dept of Bioc
 hemistry
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR