Functions of cyclin-dependent kinase 11 (CDK11) in regulation of gene expression and tumorigenesis

Doctoral study program: Life Sciences

Research area: RNA/nucleic acids research in health, cancer biology.

CDK11 is ubiquitously expressed in all tissues and the CDK11 null mouse is lethal at an early stage of development indicating an important role for Cdk11 in the adult as well as during development. CDK11 is believed to play a role in RNAPII-directed transcription and co-transcriptional mRNA-processing, particularly alternative splicing and 3´end processing. However, its genome-wide function in regulating the human transcriptome is unknown. Notably, several recent studies identified CDK11 as a candidate essential gene for growth of several cancers therefore, understanding the molecular mechanism(s) of CDK11-dependent gene expression would be also of significant clinical interest. In this research we will use various techniques of molecular biology and biochemistry to characterize genome-wide role of CDK11 in regulation of gene expression and tumorigenesis.

Recommended literature:

1. Gajduskova, P., Ruiz de Los Mozos I, Rajecky M., Hluchy M., Ule J., Blazek D*: CDK11 is required for transcription of replication dependent histone genes. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology  27 (5):500-510 (2020)

Requirements on candidates:

Background in molecular biology, biochemistry or life sciences. Interest in bioinformatics and data analyses is desirable.

Information on the supervisor:

Currently supervising 2 PhD students;