Ribosome-associated quality control in Archaea

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Robert Tampé
• Subject Area: Biochemistry ; Biophysics ; Structural Biology
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 451944608

Ribosome-associated quality control (RQC) is a universally conserved pathway to protect cells from defective and harmful mRNA translation products. RQC is closely associated with protein homeostasis and antigen presentation in adaptive immunity. Dysfunctional RQC is linked to neurodegeneration. The mechanisms underlying recognition and proteasomal targeting of aberrant nascent chains as well as downstream stress signaling are poorly understood. Within this research project, we aim at determining the structural and mechanistic principles as well as the overall regulation modalities of the RQC pathway in Archaea as a minimalistic model system and missing piece for our understanding of the driving force in the evolution of this versatile cellular machinery. An integrative approach ranging from ribosome programing and genomic modification of the ribosome-associated quality control factor aRqcH to state-of-the-art protein and ribosome biochemistry will yield new insights into the mechanistic principles underlying the regulation, processivity, and selectivity of ribosome-associated protein quality control in Archaea and beyond.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants