How the speed of making proteins affects their shape, mRNA stability, and cell behavior
Official title: Translation Kinetics and their Effects on Protein Structure and Function, mRNA half-lives, and Cellular Phenotype
Funded at Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-11406192 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how tiny changes in how quickly cells translate genetic code affect protein function, mRNA decay, and cell behavior in cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2017 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $422,469 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM124818-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11406192 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-facing study at this stage; findings may inform future studies involving patients with cancer.
✕Less likely to help
This grant does not involve direct patient participation or treatment.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the pace of translating code into proteins can change what proteins look like and how they work, and how long their mRNA lasts in cells. It combines computer simulations with lab experiments (mass spectrometry, cryo-EM, and NMR) to study translation speed across species and its effects on enzymes, transcription factors, and cell traits like movement and circadian rhythms. By testing four key questions, the work seeks to reveal new ways that synonymous mutations influence cancer biology. The research team will integrate big data approaches with hands-on experiments to uncover mechanisms that connect translation speed to cellular outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new factors that influence cancer cell behavior and protein function, potentially guiding future therapies or diagnostics.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests translation kinetics can affect protein behavior, but a comprehensive, cross-species understanding is still developing.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State University, the
University Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'brien, Edward Patrick — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: O'brien, Edward Patrick
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.