The W.M. Keck Foundation gave UF’s Center for NeuroGenetics a $1 million grant to fund research investigating the role certain proteins could play in cell biology and disease.
For years, scientists have understood how DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA and how code from the mRNA is translated into proteins, according to a press release.
But studies published about a year ago showed that the signal scientists previously thought was necessary to start the translation into protein was not required in all sequences, said Laura Ranum, the center’s director.
This meant there were proteins researchers did not know to look for, she said.
“There are extra proteins made across repetitive DNA that were not expected, including some repetitive, disease-causing mutations,” Ranum said. She, associate director Maurice Swanson and three others make up the research team, according to the release.
The grant, which will cover three years of research, will allow researchers to examine how and when these proteins are made and their potential impact. Ranum said the money will pay researchers’ salaries and buy lab equipment.
“It will be hugely important to fund the research and drive it forward,” she said.
