P50 Pilot Project 8I

(PI: Nikolaos Mellios M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine; July 2017-June 2019). Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel category of non-coding RNAs that are derived from the back-splicing and covalent joining of exons, yet lack the capacity to become translated into protein. Recent studies have suggested that circRNAs are enriched in the brain, are preferentially generated from brain plasticity-associated genes, and are abundant in dendrites and synapses. However, very little is known about the function of circRNAs in the human brain and their potential involvement in neurodevelopmental disorders such as FASD. Here, the PI is carrying out a systematic profiling of circRNA expression in response to EtOH exposure in human stem cell-derived neuronal cultures and examine the role of EtOH-induced circRNAs on synaptic plasticity and neuronal excitability. Dr. Mellios plans to acquire preliminary data on EtOH-related circRNA profiling and functional validation and apply for extramural grant support, as well as expand our knowledge on circRNA-mediated mechanisms using mouse models of FASD.