Most protein-coding mRNAs in eukaryotes must undergo a series of processing steps so they can be exported from the nucleus and translated into protein. Cleavage and polyadenylation are vital steps in this maturation process. Improper cleavage and polyadenylation results in variation in the 3′ UTR length of genes, which is a hallmark of various human diseases. Previous data have shown that the majority of 3’UTRs of mRNAs from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans terminate at an adenosine nucleotide, and that mutating this adenosine disrupts the cleavage reaction. It is unclear if the adenosine is included in the mature mRNA transcript or if it is cleaved off. To address this question, we are developing a novel method called the Terminal Adenosine Methylation (TAM) assay which will allow us to precisely define whether the cleavage reaction takes place upstream or downstream of this terminal adenosine. The TAM Assay utilizes the ability of the methyltransferase domain (MTD) of the human methyltransferase METTL16 to methylate the terminal adenosine of a test mRNA transcript prior to the cleavage reaction in vivo. The presence or absence of methylation at the terminal adenosine will then be identified using direct RNA sequencing. This project focuses on 1) preparing the chimeric construct that positions the MTD on the mRNA cleavage site of a test mRNA transcript, and 2) testing the functionality of this construct in vitro and developing a transgenic C. elegans strain expressing it. The TAM assay has the potential to be a valuable tool for elucidating the role of the terminal adenosine in cleavage and polyadenylation.

A mutation rate refers to the frequency at which DNA mutations occur in an organism over time. In organisms, mutations are the ultimate source of genetic variation on which selection may act. However, a large number of mutations over time can be detrimental to the cell. Mutation rates are the frequency at which these new mutations arise over time. This can give great insight into DNA repair mechanisms abilities as well as the mutagenic abilities of selected factors. CRISPR-Cas9 is a powerful tool for genome editing, but its off-target effects are not yet fully understood and studied. With its increasing implementation in science and medicine, it is crucial to understand the mutagenic potential of the tool. S. cerevisiae is a model organism for studying genetics due to its fast growth rate and eukaryotic nature. By integrating CRISPR-Cas9 systems into S. cerevisiae, the mutational burden of the technology can be measured and quantified using fluctuation assays. In this experiment, a fluctuation assay using canavanine selective plates was conducted to determine the mutational burden of CRISPR-Cas9 in S. cerevisiae. Multiple trials revealed that various strains of CRISPR-Cas9 had a mutation rate up to 3-fold higher than that of wild-type S. cerevisiae. This information is essential in improving the precision and safety of CRISPR-Cas9 editing in various applications, including gene therapy and biotechnology.

The purpose of the project is to create a survey that will be sent out to thousands of members of the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) to update GA4GH's Catalogue of Genomic Data Initiatives online. GA4GH's Catalogue of Genomic Data Initiatives has not been updated in several years, leading to outdated and incorrect information. The survey will be used to gather information from genetic groups worldwide to update and increase the amount of data in the Catalogue on the GA4GH website. The questions were created in collaboration with GA4GH and the Human Pangenome Reference Consortium (HPRC). The actual survey was designed on Qualtrics.