Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | Unraveling the cardiac function of m6A RNA methylation reader protein YTHDF3 |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Focus area : | Cardiovascular diseases |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. shashi Kumar Gupta, CsIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh |
Timeline Start Year : | 2024 |
Timeline End Year : | 2027 |
Contact info : | shashik.gupta1@cdri.res.in |
Details
Executive Summary : | Cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of mortality globally and in India, and there is a need to identify novel drug targets. Heart failure is primarily caused by factors such as myocardial infarction, aging, hypertension, aortic stenosis, infection, obesity, genetic predisposition, cardiotoxicity, and cancer-induced cachexia. Cardiac cachexia, characterized by a loss in cardiac mass due to ongoing cardiomyocyte apoptosis and atrophy, is a major cause of heart failure. Despite its prevalence, its molecular mechanisms and druggable targets remain poorly explored. One potential target is YTHDF3, an RNA-binding protein with a YTH domain that plays a critical role in cardiac health. The researchers aim to uncover the cardiac function of YTHDF3 by cardiomyocyte-specific knockdown in mice. Preliminary data shows that AAV9-mediated YTHDF3 knockdown leads to cardiomyocyte apoptosis and atrophy, leading to impaired cardiac function. The researchers hypothesize that cardiomyocyte-specific knockdown will also lead to cardiac apoptosis, atrophy, and impaired function. They also explore YTHDF3's role in cardiac alternative splicing and nuclear mRNA export. |
Co-PI: | Dr. Durga Prasad Mishra, CsIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh |
Total Budget (INR): | 33,69,000 |
Organizations involved