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Molecular Biology of Nascent Chains: Co-translational folding and assembly of proteins in eukaryotes

Objective

Biological activity of cells depends on timely production of natively folded proteins by powerful translation and folding machineries. At a critical regulatory intersection of translation and folding, ribosomes act as integration hubs coordinating chaperone, enzyme and membrane targeting factor activity, and mRNA coding sequence specifies local changes in translation speed, influencing folding. Final assembly of proteins into oligomeric complexes however, has long been considered posttranslational and dependent on random collision of fully synthesized diffusing subunits. In a shift of paradigm our recent evidence now suggests that in bacteria, assembly initiates co-translationally assisted by chaperones, and gene organization into operons drives co-localized translation of complex subunits that impacts efficiency of assembly. Fundamental differences in eukaryotes such as rarity of operons and differing chaperone constellations imply a widely different folding and assembly biology, which remains largely unexplored. Our development of the selective ribosome profiling (SeRP) method now allows ground-breaking identification and definition of dynamic interactions of nascent chains, at near-residue resolution. Using SeRP with supporting biochemistry and microscopy, we will unravel the nascent chain molecular biology underpinning protein folding and assembly in yeast. Specifically, we will establish (1) basic features and prevalence of co-translational protein assembly, (2) how chaperones guide co-translational protein folding to affect assembly, (3) whether translation of subunit-encoding mRNAs is spatially organized, and if so, how this occurs, and (4) to what extent translation speed variations affect assembly. Subunit interaction profiles complemented by mRNA localization will expose the timing and interplay of protein folding and assembly steps linked to protein synthesis, establishing a detailed conceptually new biology of complex assembly in eukaryotes.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) ERC-2016-ADG

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Host institution

RUPRECHT-KARLS-UNIVERSITAET HEIDELBERG
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 2 069 000,00
Address
SEMINARSTRASSE 2
69117 Heidelberg
Germany

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Region
Baden-Württemberg Karlsruhe Heidelberg, Stadtkreis
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 2 069 000,00

Beneficiaries (1)

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