How special noncoding RNAs help cells lock away proteins during stress
The Nucleolar Detention Center: A Hub of Long Noncoding RNA that Imprison Proteins during Stress
Learning how short, repetitive noncoding RNAs cause nucleoli to form reversible, protein-storing amyloid-like structures that could matter for people with cancer or neurological disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310793 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work looks at unusual noncoding RNAs from the ribosomal spacer region that appear when cells are under severe stress and help convert nucleoli into solid, amyloid-like bodies that trap many proteins. Scientists will use cell-based experiments, biochemical assays, and advanced imaging to identify the specific RNAs and the proteins they immobilize and to map where these RNAs come from in the human genome. The team will study how formation and reversal of these amyloid-bodies change cell metabolism and survival under different stress conditions. Results will focus on basic molecular mechanisms rather than testing treatments in patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancer or certain neurodegenerative conditions might be most relevant, especially if they are interested in contributing tissue or other samples for research or in future clinical work derived from these findings.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or those without cancer or neurological conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could reveal new molecular targets for therapies that control how cells survive stress in cancer and some neurodegenerative diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory studies, including prior work from this group, have described these stress-induced amyloid-like bodies in cells, but translating that knowledge into therapies is still novel and largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Coral Gables, United States
- University of Miami School of Medicine — Coral Gables, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Stephen — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Lee, Stephen
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.