Towards the molecular mechanism of rancRNA_18 function: Is this ncRNA a global translation inhibitor?

• Applicant: Dr. Julia Reuther
• Subject Area: Biochemistry
• Term: from 2016 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 320971601

The ribosome constitutes one of the most central enzymes for cellular metabolism. Recent advances suggest that the translation machinery serves as pivotal regulatory hub in protein homeostasis and stress response. While it was assumed initially that every ribosome in a cell or organism is identical with respect to its molecular composition and catalytic performance, growing evidence argues against this view. It has been shown that translation in general and the ribosome in particular has to rapidly adapt to external signals. The rate of protein biosynthesis has to be tightly controlled and regulated in order to save cellular energy and to allow the rapid adaptation to stress situations. Failure of the translation apparatus to adequately respond to challenging environmental conditions can result in cell death and disease. Recently, the ribosome was identified as binding target for numerous small non-protein-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in various organisms of all three domains of life. It appears that ribosome-associated ncRNAs (rancRNAs) are a prevalent, yet poorly understood class of cellular transcripts. A central aim of this proposal is to elucidate the functional mechanisms how stress-induced rancRNAs are capable of fine tuning the rate of protein synthesis in the eukaryotic model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Switzerland
• Host: Professor Norbert Polacek, Ph.D.