Functional characterization and regulation of pumilio proteins

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Posttranscriptional gene regulation determines the amount of protein produced by affecting mRNA stability and translation. This process is essential for cells to adapt and survive in changing environments. The Pumilio (Puf) protein family are key regulators that interact directly with a subset of mRNAs to induce their turnover and repress their translation. However, our understanding of how these proteins function remains limited. Our goal is to apply a powerful combination of genetics, cell biology, biochemistry and functional genomics in the fission yeast model system to elucidate Puf protein function in specific environmental conditions by the determination of their mRNA targets, mode of posttranscriptional control and protein partners. Our view is that this research will lead to novel mechanistic insights in the posttranscriptional regulation of genes in the cell's response to the environment. Because the function of genes is highly conserved from yeast to humans, these studies should be relevant in approach and content to human biology.