Structural Dynamics of Translation

X-ray crystal structure of
bacterial 70S ribosome

Our research is predominately focused on the mechanism of protein synthesis. The ribosome is a central component of cell metabolism, an extremely complex and highly dynamic machine. We are interested to learn how the structural dynamics of the ribosome and ribosomal ligands enable protein synthesis. We also investigate the folding and dynamics of mRNA molecules, including mRNAs containing riboswitches or structural elements that induce programmed ribosomal frameshifting.

To study structural dynamics of macromolecules we use ensemble and single molecule fluorescent methods. Our main experimental approaches are based on Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). We follow the kinetics of conformational changes in macromolecules by combining FRET with stopped-flow fast-mixing experiments. We measure FRET in single molecules using total internal reflection fluorescent (TIR) microscopy.