Conformational changes on the ribosome upon decoding

 

    The translation of the genetic code into functional protein sequences is a feat accomplished in all domains of life by the ribosome. Protein synthesis is a complex multistep process that can be divided into three main phases: initiation, elongation and termination.

     During each cycle of elongation, the two-subunit macromolecular machine decodes the mRNA transcripts by carefully selecting the appropriate aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) that matches the mRNA codon in the decoding center from a large pool of competing aa-tRNAs.

    The long term goal of the Zaher lab is to expand the understanding of the mechanisms that govern translational fidelity as well as learn about their impact on cellular fitness and codon evolution.

 

Zaher Lab News

Apr 2018

Congratulations to Alison on her NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Alison is accepted by the MCB Ph.D. program at University of Washington. 

Apr 2018

Congratulatios to Anjana on her acceptance into Weill Cornell Medical College.

Mar 2018

Congratulations to Erica on being elected as president of the Biotechnology and Life Science Advising (BALSA) Group. 

Oct 2017

Carrie and Leo's paper on ribosome traffic jam and quality control is publised in Mollecular Cell. 

Sep 2016

Congratulations to Will. His paper on peptide release and methylation of release factor is published in Cell Reports.

Jun 2016

Erica receives a 3-year fellowship from the Monsanto Excellence Fund for Graduate Fellowships in the Life Sciences.

March 2015

Graduate students Erica Thomas and Leo (Liewei) Yan join the Zaher lab.

April 2014

Hani is named a Searle Scholar.

Sept 1 2013

Carrie Simms joins the Zaher lab as a Postdoctoral fellow. Carrie finished her PhD at Simon Fraser University under the supervision of David Baillie. She will be studying the effect of oxidative damage on decoding.

July 20 2013

Ben Hudson joins the Zaher lab as a Postdoctoral fellow. Ben finished his PhD at Duke University under the supervision of John York. He will be studying the role of mRNA modifications in reprogramming translation.

June 1 2013

The Zaher lab moves to its newly renovated space on the 5th floor of Monsanto Building.