Laboratory of Cellular Protein Homeostasis

DESCRIPTION OF LAB RESEARCH WORK
Protein aggregation is a hallmark of ageing-associated diseases, prominently including neurodegenerative diseases. Cellular protein homeostasis (or proteostasis) is maintained by network of multiple processes but its capacity declines during ageing, leading to protein aggregation. Our laboratory investigates how proteostasis pathways interact and how cells deal with protein aggregates. We are particularly interested in mRNA and protein quality control pathways that target ribosomes stalled during translation. We exploit methods of cell biology/biochemistry/structural biology to understand detailed mechanisms of proteostasis pathways and how their failure impacts on cellular fitness.

Choe Young JunLEAD PI
Choe Young Ju​n
Nanyan​g Assistant Professor

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (65) 6514 1007
Office: SBS-02N-17
Yoon Mi Jeong
Research Fellow

Email: [email protected]
Tristan Chan Yew Kit
PhD Student

Email: [email protected]
Yeo Kian Hua
PhD Student

Email: [email protected]

 

  • Protein and mRNA quality control pathways at stalled ribosomes; Stalled ribosomes serve as a marker of faulty mRNAs and recruit factors to initiate mRNA and protein quality control pathways. We are trying to identify new genes involved in these pathways and characterize their functions.
  • Toxic mechanisms of protein aggregates; Protein aggregates cause various diseases and we are trying to understand their toxic mechanisms. We are particularly interested in aggregation of proteins produced by stalled ribosomes.
Ch​oe, Y.-J.*, Park, S.-H.*, Hassemer, T., Körner, R., Vincenz-Donnelly, L., Hayer-Hartl, M., Hartl, F.U. (2016) Failure of RQC machinery causes protein aggregation and proteotoxic stress. Nature 531:191-195, *Contributed equally ​