Proteins are essential molecules that carry out most functions in our cells. They are produced by ribosomes, large molecular machines that read genetic information and build proteins in a process called translation. Although ribosomes have been studied extensively in test tubes, we still know little about how millions of ribosomes work together inside human cells, how they interact with regulatory partners, and how their activity changes in response to stress or infection.
Our TransFORM project aims to answer these questions by studying protein synthesis directly in intact human cells. The project will map how ribosomes and regulatory partners are organized in different parts of the cell, how they assemble into functional complexes, and how their behavior shifts to adapt to different conditions. This will be done in a range of experimental systems, from single cells to multicellular models that mimic human tissues.
To achieve this, TransFORM is also advancing technology. The team is developing new mass spectrometry methods to identify protein partners of ribosomes inside living cells, new imaging approaches to visualize them at very high resolution, and new computational tools that integrate experimental data into detailed three-dimensional models. Together, these innovations will make it possible to generate near-atomic views of ribosomes and their partners in their natural environment.
The main outcome will be a reference atlas of ribosome states, their partners, and their locations in human cells. In addition, the methodological breakthroughs of TransFORM will provide powerful tools that can be used widely to study other essential cellular processes.
