### We would like to invite you to the 21st Webinar organized by the Early Career Investigators network (WG4) under the TRANSLACORE project, scheduled for Wednesday 17/06/2026 2:00 PM CET online.

The meeting will include the following:

Introduction – by **Paula Alepuz**

- "Characterization of the unconventional RNA-binding protein PDIA6 and its role in melanoma progression" by **Dominika Zurkowska** (PhD student at Fatima’s Gebauer Lab RNA-binding proteins in cancer, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain) 

**Synopsis:**

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are master regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression. They constitute one of the most highly conserved and largest protein families in the cell. However, they have been relatively overlooked in cancer research, representing an uncharted source of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Recently, novel RBPs involved in melanoma metastasis have been identified by the Gebauer’s group using comparative RNA interactome capture followed by extensive in vitro validation. Among these, protein disulfide isomerase family A member 6 (PDIA6) attracted our attention as it is an ER-lumen protein chaperone with yet uncharacterized roles in RNA regulation. PDIA6 is involved in metastatic progression and its RNA-binding region is required for PDIA6 tumorigenic properties (1). Nevertheless, the mechanism underlying the role of PDIA6 RNA-binding in tumorigenesis remains unknown. My project aims to understand this aspect of PDIA6 function by identifying PDIA6 RNA targets and RNA‑dependent protein interactions, to analyze their relevance in cell adaptation and tumor progression. In the presentation I will explain our approach to identify PDIA6 RNA targets as well as RNA-dependent protein interactors of PDIA6. I will show our latest data related to this aspect of PDIA6 biology, and I will also present our approach to understand where exactly PDIA6 interacts with RNA within the cell.

 (1) Mestre-Farràs et al. Melanoma RBPome identification reveals PDIA6 as an unconventional RNA-binding protein involved in metastasis. Nucleic Acids Res 50: 8207 (2022) doi: 10.1093/nar/gkac605. 


**Organizing committee:**

- Sophie Gomez
- Adolfo Rivero-Müller
- Paula Alepuz
- Nikolaos Balatsos
- Rafaela Lacerda Santos
- Paulina Podszywalow
- Gamze Guney Eskiler
- Cecilia Picazo
- Caroline Moyret Lalle


We would like to invite you to the 21th Webinar organized by the Early Career Investigators network under the TRANSLACORE project, scheduled for Wednesday 17/06/2026 2:00 PM CET online.

Dominika Zurkowska

21st Webinar for Early Career Investigators

 COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation. (www.cost.eu) | The TRANSLACORE Cost Action is bridging disciplines and expertise across Europe in order to advance an emerging field in cancer biology: translational control in cancer. It is providing a unique opportunity to understand this biological process leading to reconsider our view of gene expression control in this disease and deliver novel therapeutic opportunities.

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21st Webinar for Early Career Investigators