Long noncoding RNA regulation of adaptive immunity

The decoding of the human genome in 2001 revealed that humans have about 20,000 genes that are responsible for the production of proteins. Genes are precisely defined sections of DNA that are rewritten in RNA to produce proteins. Amazingly, less complex organisms like the 1 mm long roundworm C. elegans have as many genes as humans. This discrepancy between the number of genes and biological complexity can probably be explained by the fact that the 20,000 protein-coding genes represent only 2% of the entire human genome. However, the human body produces a much larger number of RNA molecules that are not used for protein production. These so-called noncoding RNA molecules increase in the genome of complex organisms and play an important role in regulating gene expression. Non- coding RNA is often referred to as the "dark matter" of the genome, since its biological relevance is mostly unknown. In preliminary results, our research group was able to show that non-coding RNA molecules play an important role in the immune system. Our research project therefore focuses on the identification and biological relevance of non-coding RNA molecules in immune cells, which are responsible for the successful defense against viruses, bacteria and tumor cells. Our research study aims to enhance our understanding of the regulation of immune cells. Our results could therefore identify new approaches for improving cancer immunotherapies.