Description:
tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) are newly recognized regulators of gene expression, translation, and stress responses. This project will profile tRFs in schizophrenia using RNA sequencing and investigate their roles in neuroinflammation and synaptic dysfunction—key features of the disorder. By integrating human neuronal and glial co-culture systems with murine schizophrenia models, the study aims to elucidate tRF-mediated pathways that disrupt neuronal-glial interactions, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying schizophrenia.
Methods:
Small RNA sequencing and bioinformatics for tRF profiling.
Functional assays in neuronal-glial co-cultures.
Pathway analyses to identify neuroinflammatory and synaptic dysfunction networks.
Impact:
This work will uncover the molecular roles of tRFs in schizophrenia, offering potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for psychiatric conditions.
