How SUMO 'tags' control the cell's ribosome-making machinery
SUMOylation regulation of ribosome biogenesis
This project looks at how tiny protein tags called SUMO control ribosome production and how that could matter for people with ribosomopathies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321631 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project studies how adding and removing small SUMO protein tags affects the proteins that build ribosomes inside the cell's nucleolus. Researchers will focus on enzymes like USP36 and SENP3 and use cell-based molecular experiments to map when and where proteins get SUMOylated. They will track how these changes alter rRNA processing and ribosome assembly during normal cell growth and in disease models linked to ribosomopathies. The team uses biochemical assays and protein-mapping techniques to find new SUMO-regulated steps in ribosome biogenesis. By understanding the step-by-step changes, they aim to point toward targets for future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with diagnosed ribosomopathies or related disorders of cell growth and blood formation would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to ribosome production or the SUMO pathway are unlikely to see direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets to fix faulty ribosome production in ribosomopathies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies, including the investigators' own work, support a role for SUMOylation in ribosome biogenesis, but translating these findings into treatments remains largely untested.
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.