Rachel Green’s research on ribosome structure and function in bacterial, yeast, and human cells has revealed fundamental mechanisms of protein synthesis. Green and her group use biochemistry, genetic approaches, and ribosome profiling to understand the molecular mechanisms behind how a cell responds when protein synthesis goes awry. These studies will ultimately provide insights into a wide range of human disorders that disrupt ribosome function or the cellular responses to ribosome dysfunction.
New research shows these protein-assembly machines are instrumental to helping cells quickly determine when they have sustained too much damage to continue living. Tiny cellular machines called ribosomes build proteins. When this building process goes awry in bacteria, ribosomes collide, triggering the arrival of a first responder molecule that begins a rescue operation. Four HHMI investigators have been elected to membership in the National Academy of Medicine, an organization that honors professional achievement in the health sciences. Fourteen HHMI scientists are among 84 newly elected members.