How a cell's RNA-processing machine (the nucleolar exosome) affects cancer growth
Regulation of the nucleolar RNA exosome in cancer
Researchers will change a nucleolar protein (USP36) and its partner hRrp6 to see if that changes how cancer cells make ribosomes and how fast they grow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11307107 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at a cell machine called the nucleolar RNA exosome that helps process the building blocks for protein-making (ribosomes), which often goes wrong in cancer. Scientists will study how USP36 modifies hRrp6 by adding a small tag (SUMOylation) at a specific site and how that change affects hRrp6 binding to pre-ribosomal RNA. They will use molecular lab techniques such as protein knockdown, engineered mutants (including the K583R change), and in vitro assays to measure rRNA processing and cell proliferation. The goal is to understand whether altering this pathway can reduce the overproduction of ribosomes linked to tumor growth.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancers known to have high ribosome biogenesis or those willing to donate tumor samples for laboratory studies would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People seeking an immediate treatment or enrollment in a clinical therapy trial are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new molecular targets for drugs that slow cancer cell growth by fixing abnormal ribosome production.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary lab data (including from this team) show USP36 modifies hRrp6 and that changing these proteins alters rRNA processing, but translating these findings into patient treatments has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dai, Mu-Shui — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Dai, Mu-Shui
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.