How cells read mRNA to make proteins
Structural Dynamics of Translation
This research looks at the tiny molecular steps ribosomes use to read mRNA so we can better understand diseases like cancer and viral infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11160499 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use high-resolution single-molecule microscopy and biochemical experiments to watch ribosomes move along mRNA and to see how mRNA folding affects protein production. They will study how the small ribosomal subunit finds start sites and how stem-loop structures in mRNA cause pauses during translation. The work uses purified systems and model cellular systems to reveal fundamental mechanisms that underlie protein synthesis. Although done in the lab, these basic findings relate to human diseases such as cancer, HIV, and other viral infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project is laboratory-based and does not enroll patients; it uses biochemical and imaging experiments rather than clinical participants.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatments or clinical trials are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding how ribosomes and mRNA interact could point to new drug targets or ways to control harmful protein production in cancer and viral infections.
How similar studies have performed: Prior structural and single-molecule studies have clarified many steps of translation, but turning these mechanistic insights into clinical treatments remains at an early, exploratory stage.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- University of Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ermolenko, Dmitri — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Ermolenko, Dmitri
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.