Biology and mechanisms of the translational stress signalling protein, Rqc2 (19)

• Subject Area: Biochemistry
• Term: from 2016 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 201348542

We investigate the biology and mechanisms of ribosome-associated quality control (RQC). We have identified a bacterial homolog of the translational stress signaling protein Rqc2, which recognizes nascent chain-obstructed 50S ribosomal subunits and promotes degradation of nascent chains by appending C-terminal poly-alanine tails that are recognized by the ClpXP protease. This system protects cells against translational and environmental stress, and points to the deep evolutionary origin of RQC. The proposed project will address translational stress by utilizing genetic and candidate approaches to identify additional components of the bacterial RQC pathway and their mechanisms of action.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1036: Cellular Surveillance and Damage Response
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Claudio Joazeiro