Ribonucleic acid

A molecule found in all living cells. RNA is a working copy of a cell's genetic information.

Using metatranscriptomics, we can gather information encoded in fungal RNA to understand the function and activity of fungal genes at exact moments in time. Preserving the RNA of these extraordinary networks is a huge challenge because the RNA degrades quickly. As a result, samples need to be flash frozen.

For our expedition in Corsica, the expedition team spearheaded an emerging technique called metatranscriptomics that uses the information encoded in fungal RNA to understand the function and activity of fungal genes underground at exact moments in time.

The team constructed elevational transects across the island to cover forests of different ages and a variety of climate extremes. To preserve the RNA of living fungal networks, the team carefully sampled under the roots of  old-growth trees and instantly froze the samples on dry ice to prevent the unstable RNA molecules from degrading in the hot weather.

These fungal samples will allow us to decode what genes are upregulated and downregulated in the fungal RNA during heat stress. This information will be crucial to understanding how fungal networks help old-growth forests survive climate extremes.

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