MPI-NAT SEMINAR SERIES: Dynamics of mRNA translation revealed by single-molecule microscopy
MPI-NAT SEMINAR SERIES
- Date: Feb 26, 2026
- Time: 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
- Speaker: Marvin Tanenbaum
- Location: Max-Planck-Institut für Multidisziplinäre Naturwissenschaften (MPI-NAT, Faßberg-Campus)
- Room: Ludwig Prandtl Hall
- Host: Marina Rodnina & Niels Fischer
- Contact: office.rodnina@mpinat.mpg.de
Protein synthesis is a tightly regulated, multi-step process that determines cellular proteome composition. To understand translational control, we apply two complementary approaches to study translation initiation and elongation to reveal new principles governing the efficiency and fidelity of mRNA translation.
Using a combination of high throughput CRISPR mutagenesis, bioinformatics, in vitro reconstitution and structural biology, we show how ribosomes recognize translation start sites. We find that the Kozak Consensus Sequence is not sufficient for efficient start site recognition, rather a much larger mRNA region, which we call the extended Translation Initiation Sequence (eTIS), guides ribosomes to the correct start site.
To study the translation elongation phase, we have developed a new imaging assay, based on stopless-ORF circular RNAs (socRNAs), which allow very high resolution tracking of single ribosomes. Using socRNAs, we find that ribosomes can cooperate to overcome translation pauses to ensure fast and efficient translation. Together, these results yield new insights into translational control mechanisms and provide powerful new tools to study translation.
Using a combination of high throughput CRISPR mutagenesis, bioinformatics, in vitro reconstitution and structural biology, we show how ribosomes recognize translation start sites. We find that the Kozak Consensus Sequence is not sufficient for efficient start site recognition, rather a much larger mRNA region, which we call the extended Translation Initiation Sequence (eTIS), guides ribosomes to the correct start site.
To study the translation elongation phase, we have developed a new imaging assay, based on stopless-ORF circular RNAs (socRNAs), which allow very high resolution tracking of single ribosomes. Using socRNAs, we find that ribosomes can cooperate to overcome translation pauses to ensure fast and efficient translation. Together, these results yield new insights into translational control mechanisms and provide powerful new tools to study translation.