# How cells monitor the integrity of their translation apparatus

> **NIH NIH DP5** · CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON, D.C. · 2023 · $166,558

## Abstract

Abstract
 Protein biosynthesis is by far the most energy-consuming process during cellular
proliferation; translation accounts for roughly 50% of the energy consumption in growing
bacterial, and 30% in differentiating mammalian cells. At the heart of this essential process
is the ribosome, the complex molecular machine that catalyzes the peptide bond formation.
Therefore, to ensure continuous protein production, cells need to monitor the integrity of their
ribosomes. Indeed, throughout the lifetime of the ribosome, its many components are subject
to both mechanical and chemical assaults and the accumulated damage can render the
ribosome translation-incompetent. At organismal level, alterations in ribosome structure and
function have been associated diseases such as neurodegeneration, cancer and
ribosomopathies. Although maintaining functional translation apparatus is essential for cell
survival, the factors involved in the detection and degradation of faulty ribosomes remain
poorly characterized.
 Studying ribosome surveillance has been hindered by a lack of robust methods for
monitoring, purifying, and perturbing specific populations of ribosomes. This proposal aims
at exploiting the recent advances in quantitative mass spectrometry, functional genomics
methods, and genome editing to identify the factors necessary for coping with 1) defective
intermediates during ribosome biogenesis, 2) damaged ribosomes, and 3)
specialized ribosomes that have fulfilled their role. This work will advance our
knowledge of a fundamental biological process, and improve our understanding of the
molecular basis of complex human disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10694058
- **Project number:** 5DP5OD028147-05
- **Recipient organization:** CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
- **Principal Investigator:** Kamena Kostova
- **Activity code:** DP5 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $166,558
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-16 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10694058

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10694058, How cells monitor the integrity of their translation apparatus (5DP5OD028147-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10694058. Licensed CC0.

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