Guest talk: Professor Jie Ren

Professor Jie Ren
Title: RNA Assemblies as Molecular Hubs: From Genomic Stability to Age-Related Pathology

Jie Ren is a Principal Investigator at the National Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science in Shanghai. Her research focuses on RNA-mediated regulation of chromatin dynamics and genome stability, particularly in the context of transcription–replication conflicts and epigenetic control. She integrates multi-omics and advanced genomic technologies to uncover mechanisms underlying aging, stem cell function, and disease

RNA is traditionally viewed merely as a transient messenger. However, emerging evidence reveals that RNA and its associated proteins form highly dynamic assemblies that act as complex sensors, signaling centers, and active functional hubs. In these contexts, RNA plays a profound, multi-faceted role—serving simultaneously as a structural foundation to recruit molecular machinery, and as an active transcript that dictates cell fate under stress. This seminar explores how these specialized RNA hubs function in two distinct biological arenas: preserving genomic stability and driving chronic cellular aging. First, we will examine the nucleus, where transcription-replication conflicts (TRCs) threaten genome integrity. Leveraging fission yeast, we uncover a novel, non-canonical function of the RNAi factor Dcr1. We demonstrate that Dcr1 directly senses the difficult-to-terminate chromatin context—stalled RNA polymerases and accumulated R-loops—to resolve conflicts and bias DNA repair toward high-fidelity mechanisms. This nuclear RNA-protein hub provides a vital mechanistic framework for understanding how RNA processing failures drive genomic instability in rare human conditions, such as DICER1 syndrome and cancer. Second, we transition to the cytoplasm to address chronic cellular aging. We reveal that during cellular senescence, RNAs and RNPs form persistent, specialized condensates. To decode their function, we developed a novel single-cell condensate RNA sequencing technology to map the RNA composition of these "senescence granules." Highlighting their accumulation in the aging mouse brain, our work exposes a novel vulnerability and a promising senolytic target for age-related neurodegenerative pathologies.

ALL ARE WELCOME.