Grant: Project Grant

Protein molecules are what are created when genetic information is translated into a real world molecular actor that can affect change within a cell. Too much or too little of a protein can harm a cell and lead to diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, or autism spectrum disorders. Unfortunately, little is known about how the production of proteins within a cell changes over time and in response to external factors. For example, when a brain cell learns something new, how does the production of specific proteins change? How fast does this happen? Where in the cell does this happen? To answer these questions, our project will track and measure protein production in single cells in the living animal to watch in real time how it changes and under different conditions. We will use cutting-edge molecular genetics and imaging techniques to tag and watch these molecular events. These experiments will give us unprecedented insight into the inner workings of the most important and final step when a gene is translated into action. Accomplishing this will allow us to understand what happens when protein production goes wrong in a disease state, and what the outcome for the cell is. This will give researchers more accurate targets and knowledge for interventions and therapies for these diseases.