# CAREER: The causes and consequences of ribosome stalling in bacteria

> **NSF 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Cornell University (NY) · $1,500,000

## Abstract

Ribosomes are molecular machines that manufacture the proteins needed for cellular life. Ribosomes promote peptide bond formation between amino acids, building polymers which then fold to produce functional proteins. Numerous factors have been discovered that interact with the ribosome and aid protein synthesis. These translation factors can help the ribosome produce amino acid sequences that do not even exist in nature. Therefore, an understanding of how ribosomes produce proteins has important implications for biotechnology, synthetic biology, and advanced materials manufacturing. This project aims to identify proteins that aid translation during stressful conditions in bacteria. During extreme stress, some bacteria can form spores, a type of cell that can remain dormant for thousands of years. Therefore, this work also aims to determine how translation is regulated during spore production. The project includes an educational plan that will engage elementary school students in protein-building workshops at a local science museum. Through hands-on activities involving 3D-printed ribosomes and free software to view protein structures, students are provided an opportunity to learn about molecular biology and protein synthesis.

Most of the energy in actively growing cells is dedicated to protein synthesis. Therefore, protein synthesis must be tightly regulated, especially when the cell experiences stressful conditions such as low and high temperatures and nutrient limitation. Using the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus subtilis as a model organism, the proposed work will uncover the functional network of proteins that interact with the ribosome during stress. Proteins of interest include factors involved in ribosome rescue, alarmone production, and translation factors that alter the rate of protein synthesis. Ribosome quality control in sporulating cells will also be investigated since sporulation is an important stress response that requires major changes in geneti

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2542558
- **Awardee organization:** Cornell University (NY)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** G56PUALJ3KT5
- **PI:** Heather Feaga
- **Primary program:** 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** CAREER-Faculty Erly Career Dev, NANOSCALE BIO CORE, Advanced Manufacturing, Biotechnology
- **Estimated total:** $1,500,000
- **Funds obligated:** $1,200,000
- **Transaction type:** Continuing Grant
- **Period:** 06/01/2026 → 05/31/2031

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2542558

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2542558, CAREER: The causes and consequences of ribosome stalling in bacteria. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-07-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2542558. Licensed CC0.

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