# Dynamic visualization of polyribosomes

> **NIH NIH R21** · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $250,500

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading single-gene cause of autism and the most common form of inherited
intellectual disability. Although we understand the genetic mechanism of fragile X mental retardation (FMR1)
gene silencing and the loss of function mutations, what is not clear is the molecular function of fragile X mental
retardation protein (FMRP). There is biochemical and genetic evidence that FMRP interacts with RNA and
polysomes to regulate protein synthesis. However, these approaches are unable to detect the dynamic interactions
between ribosomes and FMRP. Our plan is to characterize the polysome-FMRP association using imaging
techniques. Light microscopy can provide high resolution map of when and where molecular interactions take
place. We will first demonstrate fluorescence resonance energy transfer between ribosome subunits (riboFRET)
by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). In addition to riboFRET from fluorescent proteins, we will
utilize orthogonal self-labeling tags that can be conjugated to organic dyes. The enhanced brightness and
photostability of synthetic dyes will improve FLIM-FRET measurements. Next, co-expression of FMRP can show
which polysomes within dendrites are bound by FMRP and we allow us to test how synaptic stimulation can alter
this interaction. We will perform single-particle tracking (SPT) to monitor individual ribosomal subunits and
FMRP assembly or disassembly in response to synaptic activity. Innovations in self-labeling tags, organic dyes
and FLIM will be combined to provide robust and high resolution FRET and SPT results in neurons. Our strategy
intends to provide a comprehensive understanding of molecular interactions between ribosomes and FMRP.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9954164
- **Project number:** 5R21MH120496-02
- **Recipient organization:** ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Young Jun Yoon
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $250,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-06-13 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9954164

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9954164, Dynamic visualization of polyribosomes (5R21MH120496-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9954164. Licensed CC0.

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