Andrei Korostelev

Professor, RNA Therapeutics Institute, UMass Chan Medical School

Andrei Korostelev, PhD, is Professor at the RNA Therapeutics Institute at UMass Chan Medical School. He studies the regulation of protein synthesis (translation), focusing on: (1) accuracy of translation, (2) understanding the ribosome as a cellular stress sensor and (3) dysregulated translation in disease. Using ensemble cryo-EM and time-resolved cryo-EM, the Korostelev lab visualized how the ribosome cooperates with translation factors to achieve high accuracy of mRNA decoding and translocation, and of the termination of protein synthesis. These studies revealed interactions of the translational machinery with numerous cellular components, including RNA polymerase and stringent factor RelA, which can rewire cellular gene expression. Finally, their studies elucidated how ribosomes interact with drugs and with disease-related molecules, such as peptides involved in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, uncovering the structural mechanisms of disease and suggesting new avenues of therapeutics development.