NHRFIBRB

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NHRF-IBRB RNA Processing
Programme Scientific Staff
Dr. Apostolia Guialis, Researcher A,
Programme Head Dr. Meropi
Patrinou-Georgoula , Researcher C
Technical Personnel Christina
Theodoropoulou Cleopatra
Logotheti Stavroula Tsouni
Externally Funded Scientific Staff
Panayiota Kafasla (ENBAN-66, 1998-1999)
Sorana Siapka (EKBAN-61,
1998-present)
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• NHRF-IBRB
• RNA Processing Programme
• Program Aims
• Regulated gene expression at the
  post-transcriptional level, in eukaryotes
• Analysis of RNA / protein components belonging
  to nuclear
• ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes of the mRNA
  processing unit
• ("Ribonucleome"), in animal cells.
• Involvement of nuclear RNP components in human
  pathophysiology
• (autoimmunity and malignancy).

Ribonucleome
Proteome
Genome
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• NHRF-IBRB
• RNA Processing Programme
• Research Lines
• Task I.
• Molecular characterization of components
  belonging to nuclear RNP
• (hnRNP, snRNP entities).
• Focus on the role of hnRNP proteins, currently
  considered important
• gene regulators.
• Achievements.
• -Identification of novel, nuclear RNP assemblies
  in animal cells.
• -Cloning and characterization of additional hnRNP
  polypeptides
• (biochemical features and role in mRNA
  splicing).
• Publications
• Moraitou et. al., (1998). Biochem. J. 332,
  135-144.
• Plomaritoglou et. al., (2000) Bioch. Biophys.
  Acta 1490, 54-62.

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• NHRF-IBRB
• RNA Processing Programme
• Perspectives of Task I
• -Determine functional characteristics of the
  novel LH-nRNP complex (collaboration with J.
  Lewis, University of Edinburg).
• -Identify new roles of hnRNP polypeptides in the
  coupling and coordination of mRNA biogenesis, in
  cellular and viral systems
• hnRNP A/B type proteins in nuclear mRNA
  translocation and
• transport (collaboration with B. Daneholt,
  Karolinska Institute,
• Stockholm).
• Novel macromolecular assemblies containing
  specific hnRNP
• proteins and transcription factors
  (collaboration with L. Tora,
• CNRS, Strasbourg pending funding)
• Binding of a hnRNP A/B type polypeptide to a
  viral protein in
• Adenovirus-infected human cells (collaboration
  with J.
• Chroboczek, CNRS, Grenoble).

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• NHRF-IBRB RNA Processing Programme
• Task II
• Biological significance of autoantibodies
  against constituents of
• ribonucleoprotein complexes, in rheumatic
  autoimmune diseases.
• The activity is part of a long-standing
  collaboration with the Department of
  Pathophysiology, Medical School, Univ. of Athens
  ( supported by a national R D grantEKBAN-61).
• Achievements
• -Establishment of hnRNP complexes as a new and
  frequent target of autoantibodies in rheumatic
  autoimmune diseases.
• -Determination of the fine specificity and
  disease association of known and novel
  autoantibodies.
• -Characterization of immunogenic properties of
  specific autoantigens
• Publications
• -Dangli et.al., (1996). Biochem. J. 320, 761-767
• -Vlachoyiannopoulos et. al., (1996) Br. J. Rheum.
  35, 534-541
• -Kordossis et al., (1997). Clin. Exp. Rheumatol.,
  15, 185-188
• -Vlachoyiannopoulos et. al., (2000) J. Autoimmun.
  14, 53-61

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NHRF-IBRB RNA Processing
Programme Perspectives of Task
II -Characterize the prognostic/diagnostic value
of novel anti-hnRNP autoantibodies. -Identify
specific quantitative/qualitative changes on RNP
autoantigens in diseased model systems.

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• NHRF-IBRB
• RNA Processing Programme
• Task III
• Explore recent evidence on hnRNP proteins
  involvement in cancer.
• Identify specific alterations in the expression
  profiles of hnRNP proteins
• that can serve as novel biological markers of
  malignancy and possibly
• new targets for disease intervention.
• A relatively recent research activity that takes
  place in the framework of a national R D grant
  ( ?????-66).
• Achievements.
• -Establishement of mRNA expression profiles of
  hnRNP polypeptides in tumor cell lines and
  biopsies.

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NHRF-IBRB RNA Processing Programme
Perspectives of Task III -Determine
quantitative/qualitative changes in the
expression pattern of hnRNP proteins and
possibly other mRNA processing components that
associate with a specific type and stage of
malignancy -Identify and relate modulations
on the protein components of the mRNA processing
machinery with the induction of apoptotic
phenomena in normal and tumor human cells
(apoptotic patterns). Possible exploitation to
drug effectiveness during chemotherapy
(collaboration with C. Tsiapalis, St. Savas
Cancer Hospital and M. Havredaki, NCSR
"Democritos", Athens).
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NHRF-IBRB RNA Processing
Programme Contribution of the RNA Processing
Programme to the Biomedical Unit of
IBRB Current Services provided to the
Rheumatology Clinic, University of
Athens, with respect to
-Application of advanced molecular technology to
determine the fine
specificity of novel and rare autoantibodies.
-Checking and validating results on
autoantibody profiles in
selected patients' sera.
-Provision of purified and recombinant
autoantigens. -Transfer of
know-how and training of clinicians. Expected
Potentially novel Molecular Diagnostics in
autoimmune
diseases and cancer.
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NHRF-IBRB RNA Processing
Programme Publications in reviewed Journals
8 Chapters in Books 1 Citation Index
48 Education -Ph.D. students M. Moraitou, 1997
P. Kafasla Submitted
A. Plomaritoglou final
stage S. Siapka in
progress -Diploma students G. Lambrou, Univ. of
Marburg -Lab. course for graduate students
Chemistry Dept., Univ. of Ioannina

(1998-present). -University Post-graduate
courses Special lectures in the Biology Dept.,
Univ. of Athens and Medical School, Univ. of
Athens. Collaborations at the National and
European level 7 (Listed in Tasks I-III)
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NHRF-IBRB RNA Processing
Programme Funding The research activities
of the program for the period 1996-1999 were,
entirely, supported by the external sources
listed below -Services provided to the
Rheumatology Clinic, Medical School, Univ. of
Athens. -Clearance fund of Human Capital and
Mobility EU project (1993-1995). -Participation
in a national RD grants EKBAN-61, EKBAN-66
1999-2001 ?ncome 26.2 million GRD (research
grants) 2.3 "
" (services)