Maria Perander
Job description
Professor at the Department of Medical Biology, RNA and Molecular Pathology group
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Research interests
My research group is interested in long non-coding RNAs that have a potential role in breast cancer development and therapy. Currently, we have two on-going projects:
1. Identification and characterization of lncRNAs with regulatory functions in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)
2. Unravelling the function of Nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) and paraspeckles in cellular stress responses and breast cancer
We have performed whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing of 3 mammary EMT cell models (MCF10A, HMLE, and D492). Several EMT-associated lncRNAs have been identified that are abnormally expressed in breast cancer. We are conducting experimental assays to determine their cellular functions.
NEAT1 is an abundant nuclear lncRNA that is conserved among mammals. The NEAT1 gene is transcribed into two overlapping isoforms, NEAT1_1 and NEAT1_2, of which the latter is essential for the assembly of nuclear ribonucleoprotein bodies called paraspeckles. Abnormal NEAT1 expression and paraspeckle formation are associated with human diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. NEAT1 levels and paraspeckle formation are upregulated in response to cellular stress, and emerging evidence suggests that they play a cytoprotective role. In line with this, high NEAT1 levels are associated with therapy resistance in cancer. We are currently studying the function of NEAT1 and paraspeckles in cellular stress response pathways such as the heat shock response and autophagy. We are also interested in the role of the NEAT1 isoforms in breast cancer.