Molecular characterization of the function and regulation of the subcomplexes of the ribosomal small subunit processome in ribosome assembly in the yeast model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae

核糖体是微小的分子机器，在所有细胞中都有成千上万的核糖体。它们是基因组（或DNA）和蛋白质之间的纽带，在生活的各个方面都起着至关重要的作用。核糖体“读取”遗传信息并将其翻译成相应的蛋白质。反过来，蛋白质为细胞提供建筑和结构上的支持，提供移动的能力（如肌肉收缩），并且通常它们自己充当微型分子马达，为细胞提供使用能量、生长和分裂的能力。这些都是细胞正常日常生活的关键方面。我们对核糖体如何读取遗传物质并组装相应的蛋白质有了越来越复杂的了解，就像我们对汽车内燃机的了解一样。这里提出的研究着眼于核糖体是如何组装的，以及另一个微型分子机器，称为SSU过程体，它组装部分核糖体。这类似于我说我的兴趣在于汽车是如何组装的以及汽车装配线是如何工作的。

Ribosomes are tiny molecular machines that are present by the hundreds of thousands in all cells. They play an essential role in every aspect of life, as they are the link between the genome (or DNA) and proteins. Ribosomes “read” genetic information and translate it into the corresponding protein. In turn, proteins provide the cell with architectural and structural support, the ability to move (such as muscle contraction), and often themselves act as miniature molecular motors in providing the cell with the ability to use energy, to grow, and to divide. These are all key aspects to the normal day-to-day life of a cell. We have an increasingly sophisticated understanding of how ribosomes read genetic material and assemble the corresponding protein, much like we understand well the internal combustion motor of a car. The research proposed here looks at how the ribosome is assembled and at another miniature molecular machine, called the SSU processome, which assembles part of the ribosome. That is akin to my saying that my interests are in how cars are assembled and how car assembly lines work.