Pertschy group - 40S biogenesis
Research projects
A. Chaperones and assembly factors for ribosomal proteins
The rapid rate of ribosome biogenesis necessitates that ribosomal proteins are synthesized in high amounts. Furthermore, mechanisms are required to keep ribosomal proteins soluble and to efficiently transport them from the site of their synthesis in the cytoplasm into the nucleus. There, they need to be correctly targeted and assembled into ribosomal subunits. In this project we are studying auxiliary factors that function in stabilization, import and ribosome assembly of ribosomal proteins.
B. Cytoplasmic steps of 40S subunit maturation
Another focus of our work is the coordination between structural maturation and rRNA processing in freshly exported pre-40S particles. The final rRNA processing step in 40S subunit biogenesis is an endonucleolytic cleavage that generates the mature 18S rRNA. We are investigating which structural changes of the rRNA are necessary in order for cleavage to occur. In particular, we are interested in the RNA helicase Prp43 and additional factors that participate in such structural re-arrangements.
For more information on the 40S projects, please contact Brigitte Pertschy
Contact
Humboldtstraße 50/EG 8010 Graz
Priv. Doz. Dr. Brigitte Pertschy