Study of the human HABP4 protein and its ortholog VIG-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans

• Grant number: 24/05957-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Jörg Kobarg
• Grantee: Karoline Soares de Freitas
• Supervisor: Bjorn Schumacher
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universitätsklinikum Köln, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 20/15071-4 - Study of the promoter regulation, the target transcriptome and the physiological and pathological function of the HABP4 protein, involved in colon cancer., BP.DR

Abstract

Hyaluronic Acid Binding Protein 4 (HABP4) is a key intracellular protein involved in regulating various cellular processes, including transcriptional and translational control, as well as cell cycle progression. Its role in tumor suppression has been extensively studied, with interactions and microarray analyses linking it to important pathways like chromatin remodeling, apoptosis, and mRNA metabolism. Recent research indicates that lower expression of HABP4 is associated with increased tumorigenesis in renal and colon cancers, suggesting its potential as a tumor suppressor. Structurally, HABP4's involvement in regulating mRNA stability, especially through its RGG/RG Box motif, may contribute to carcinogenesis when mutated. In lower organisms like Caenorhabditis elegans, the ortholog of HABP4, Vasa Intronic Gene-1 (VIG-1), shares functional similarities, particularly in modulating gene expression and genome stability. Studies in C. elegans have highlighted the importance of VIG-1 in maintaining genome integrity and its interaction with let-7 miRNA, indicating the conservation of these regulatory mechanisms across species. Given the complexity of HABP4 and VIG-1's functions, this project aims to use C. elegans as a model organism to explore their roles in vivo. C. elegans offers advantages such as a fully sequenced genome and ease of genetic manipulation, making it suitable for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying processes like DNA repair, proliferation, and apoptosis. Through DNA damage assays and genetic manipulation techniques, the study intends to uncover how HABP4 and VIG-1 influence these processes, providing insights into their roles in carcinogenesis. Understanding HABP4's function and its involvement in cancer development may pave the way for targeted therapies aimed at modulating its activity in cancer treatment.