Research Summary

Research in the Charette Lab uses yeast models to study the function and regulation of the SSU processome in ribosome assembly in both healthy and disease states. Ribosome assembly is needed for cell growth and is dysregulated in cancer. A number of ribosome assembly disorders (called ribosomopathies) result in the mis-assembly of ribosomes which is linked to cancer. These include Diamond-Blackfan anemia and a number of other rare genetic diseases and their associated cancers. We are specifically interested in identifying the function of the SSU processome protein Emg1, which includes a sequence variant that causes Bowen-Conradi Syndrome. Emg1 is of interest in cancer because it is required for the assembly of the mRNA decoding center of the ribosome P-site which is critical to the efficient and accurate translation of mRNA into protein. We are also interested in determining the role of the protein kinase CK2 complex in the regulation of SSU processome function and ribosome assembly in normal and cancer growth.