Localization of Nascent Proteins to Sub-cellular Compartments in Health and Disease

Our research group aims to unravel the mechanisms by which cells regulate ribosome function in response to maintain protein production and organelle proteostasis. Following synthesis, each newly made protein needs to be delivered to its final destination to fulfill its designated role. Our particular interest lies in understanding how these proteins reach their ultimate locations and how this process is perturbed in disease.

Dysfunction in this pathway results in protein aggregation, potentially leading to the onset of several neurodegenerative diseases. In the contrast, in cancer, cells up-regulate their protein synthesis machinery to cope with the heightened demand for cell proliferation.

We are actively investigating how the localization of newly made proteins is disrupted during disease progression, leading to organelle adaptation.

Our current research focuses on three research projects:

1. Examining how nascent chains channel across ER chaperone and processing machineries during ER protein biogenesis in rare neurodegenerative diseases.
2. Investigating the mechanisms of mitochondrial protein sorting in the cytoplasm and the complex interplay between sorting factors in colon cancer.
3. Elucidating the intricate links between the protein synthesis machinery, organelle adaptation, and dormancy in cancer cells.

To achieve our research goals, our group develop and then employ a comprehensive set of integrative research approaches, including molecular and structural biology, biochemical analyses, and biophysical techniques. Notably, we emphasize the use of high-resolution single-particle cryo-electron microscopy, allowing us to gain detailed insights into the structural aspects of the processes under investigation.