The Protein Puzzle

Proteins are the molecular workhorses of the human body, responsible for everything from the signaling of neurons in our brains to recognizing pathogens in our immune systems. Understanding how proteins are made is a fundamental biological problem. We know proteins are dysregulated during viral infection and by many human diseases including several forms of neurodegeneration and cancer that only underscores the importance of gaining clarity on the creation process. In this presentation, you will hear about some groundbreaking work taking place in Professor Voorhees' lab studying the molecular basis for how human cells make and regulate protein synthesis. Understanding this process can provide new avenues for treatment of disease.