# Post-transcriptional mechanisms of centrosome regulation

> **NIH NIH R01** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $13,260

## Abstract

Parent Award Project Summary:
Centrosome deregulation is the leading cause of heritable microcephaly, a congenital birth
defect typically associated with intellectual disabilities and developmental delay. Centrosome
dysfunction is also considered a key driver and prognostic marker of cancer. Yet, mechanisms
underlying centrosome regulation remain incompletely understood. Centrosomes undergo cell
cycle-dependent changes in composition and organization to modulate their activity as
microtubule-organizing centers, and these oscillations contribute to the diversity of centrosome
functions. One dynamic constituent of centrosomes is mRNA, yet the functional role of mRNA
localized to centrosomes remains poorly understood. In this proposal, we examine whether
mRNA contributes to centrosome regulation and functions. In Aim 1, we define mechanisms of
mRNA localization to centrosomes. In Aim 2, we uncover the regulatory contributions of two
conserved RNA-binding proteins. Aim 3 examines the function of mRNA localized to
centrosomes. The completion of this work will address long- standing questions about the role
of mRNA localized to centrosomes within a genetically tractable model. This work will contribute
to our understanding of centrosome regulation, aspects of which are deregulated in cases of
microcephaly and cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10393737
- **Project number:** 3R01GM138544-01S1
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Dorothy A Lerit
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $13,260
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10393737

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10393737, Post-transcriptional mechanisms of centrosome regulation (3R01GM138544-01S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10393737. Licensed CC0.

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