Research Interests

Specific complexes of protein and RNA carry out many essential biological functions, including RNA processing, RNA turnover, RNA folding, as well as the translation of genetic information from mRNA into protein sequences. Our group is interested in studying RNA-protein interactions and translational control of gene expression. A major research focus in my lab concerns the SmpB•SsrA quality control system for protein tagging, directed degradation, and ribosome rescue (see Figure below). We are also interested in understanding how sequence and structure in RNA-binding proteins contribute to the formation of specific RNA-protein complexes and how these complexes promote specific biological functions. We use a combination of protein biochemistry, functional genomics, bioinformatics, and X-ray crystallography to determine the biological function and mechanism of action of specific RNA-protein complexes.

Current Model for SsrA RNA Function

Selected References

1. Karzai, A. W., and Sauer, R. T. (2001). Protein Factors Associated with the SsrA•SmpB Tagging and Ribosome Rescue Complex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Mar 13;98(6):3040-3044.

2. Barends S, Karzai, A. W., and Sauer, R. T., Wower, J., and Kraal, B. (2001). Simultaneous and Functional Binding of SmpB and EF-Tu•GTP to Alanyl Acceptor Arm of tmRNA. (Submitted).

3. Karzai, A. W., Roche, E. D., and Sauer, R. T. (2000). The SsrA-SmpB system for protein tagging, directed degradation and ribosome rescue. Nat Struct Biol 7, 449-55.

4. Karzai, A. W., Susskind, M. M., and Sauer, R. T. (1999). SmpB, a unique RNA-binding protein essential for the peptide-tagging activity of SsrA (tmRNA). Embo J 18, 3793-9.

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