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National Research Program
PhD Scholarship
Researcher:
Brian Liddicoat
Institute:
St Vincent’s Institute of Medical
Research
Project title:
Role of RNA editing during normal
blood development and the
formation of blood cancer
Disease focus:
Leukaemia
Annual Funding: $40,000
Funding period:
2012-2014
R-L Mr Brian Liddicoat and his supervisor, Dr. Carl
Photo
Walkley.
Project summary
Brian Liddicoat is investigating the role of ribonucleic acid (RNA) editing in the
development of blood cells and leukaemia.
RNA plays an important role in translating the genetic information contained in the DNA.
RNA is produced when a single-stranded, complementary ‘copy’ of a gene’s DNA
sequence is transcribed.
Post-transcription, RNA editing can occur. Editing involves changing, adding or deleting
the nucleotides that make up the RNA’s coding sequence. Editing can dramatically alter
the proteins produced by the RNA (and their function in the cell).
Brian is concentrating his research on the role of ADAR1, a type of protein known as an
enzyme, which regulates RNA by changing its coding sequence.
According to Brian, adult blood cells cannot develop without ADAR1.
“My laboratory has strong evidence suggesting that ADAR1 plays an additional, essential
role in red blood cells but that the enzyme is dispensable for the development of the
myeloid and lymphoid white blood cells,” Brian said.
“We aim to find out what ADAR1 does during normal blood cell development as well as in
the formation of leukaemias. We don’t really understand the impact of ADARs in cancer
but we think the activity is altered.
“In acute lymphocytic leukaemia, low levels of the enzyme correlate with poor prognosis
and we suspect RNA editing is associated with the development and progression of
leukaemia.”
Brian is studying under the supervision of the Leukaemia Foundation’s Philip Desbrow
Senior Research Fellowship recipient, Dr Carl Walkely.