Korostelev Lab
@korostelevlab.bsky.social
We are interested in life sciences, structural biology, translation, ribosomes, neurobiology and RNA therapeutics.
Location: RNA Therapeutics Institute, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
https://www.umassmed.edu/korostelev-lab/
Location: RNA Therapeutics Institute, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
https://www.umassmed.edu/korostelev-lab/
Pinned
Korostelev Lab
@korostelevlab.bsky.social
· Nov 24
Angiogenin controls angiogenesis (et plus) by nicking tRNAs. But it’s barely active alone. We discovered how 80S ribosome unlocks Ang’s active site and “brings in” tRNAs.
Congrats to Anna Loveland and collab. w/@ajplanetearth!
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07508-8
Congrats to Anna Loveland and collab. w/@ajplanetearth!
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07508-8
GTPBP1 is a GTPase implicated in neurodevelopment. Our cryo-EM maps show GTPBP1 delivering tRNA to ribosome.
Due to delayed GTPase dissociation, mRNA decoding is more stringent than with bona fide delivery factor eEF1A.
Congrats to Denis Susorov and collab with Pestova lab! tinyurl.com/3smdvt3v
Due to delayed GTPase dissociation, mRNA decoding is more stringent than with bona fide delivery factor eEF1A.
Congrats to Denis Susorov and collab with Pestova lab! tinyurl.com/3smdvt3v
December 5, 2025 at 6:30 PM
GTPBP1 is a GTPase implicated in neurodevelopment. Our cryo-EM maps show GTPBP1 delivering tRNA to ribosome.
Due to delayed GTPase dissociation, mRNA decoding is more stringent than with bona fide delivery factor eEF1A.
Congrats to Denis Susorov and collab with Pestova lab! tinyurl.com/3smdvt3v
Due to delayed GTPase dissociation, mRNA decoding is more stringent than with bona fide delivery factor eEF1A.
Congrats to Denis Susorov and collab with Pestova lab! tinyurl.com/3smdvt3v
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
Check out our latest work on how collided ribosomes activate the MAP3K ZAK! 💫
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A fun collaboration with @beckmannlab.bsky.social @doubleshuang.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A fun collaboration with @beckmannlab.bsky.social @doubleshuang.bsky.social
ZAK activation at the collided ribosome - Nature
The kinase ZAK is activated at collided ribosomes to mediate the ribotoxic stress response.
www.nature.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Check out our latest work on how collided ribosomes activate the MAP3K ZAK! 💫
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A fun collaboration with @beckmannlab.bsky.social @doubleshuang.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A fun collaboration with @beckmannlab.bsky.social @doubleshuang.bsky.social
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
Using "in extracto cryo-EM", we visualize ribosomes in mammalian lysates, including RRL. "Hibernating" ribosomes carry an extended set of proteins that protect functional centers. These include elongation factor eEF2, LARP1 implicated in mTOR signaling, eIF5A etc. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 30, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Using "in extracto cryo-EM", we visualize ribosomes in mammalian lysates, including RRL. "Hibernating" ribosomes carry an extended set of proteins that protect functional centers. These include elongation factor eEF2, LARP1 implicated in mTOR signaling, eIF5A etc. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
ROOL monomers entangle with other monomers via strand swapping to form octameric RNA nanocages.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
June 16, 2025 at 6:03 PM
ROOL monomers entangle with other monomers via strand swapping to form octameric RNA nanocages.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
With our @RTI-UMassChan.bsky.social colleagues Xiaobin Ling and Wenwen Fang, we report cryo-EM structures of enigmatic bacterial RNA nanocages made of ROOL RNAs. Octamers are held by "A-minor staples" and other interactions. Congrats Xiaobin, Dima et al!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
June 16, 2025 at 6:01 PM
With our @RTI-UMassChan.bsky.social colleagues Xiaobin Ling and Wenwen Fang, we report cryo-EM structures of enigmatic bacterial RNA nanocages made of ROOL RNAs. Octamers are held by "A-minor staples" and other interactions. Congrats Xiaobin, Dima et al!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Activation of Retron-Septu for antiphage defense. Congrats
Tian-Min and all co-authors!
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
Tian-Min and all co-authors!
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
June 16, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Activation of Retron-Septu for antiphage defense. Congrats
Tian-Min and all co-authors!
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
Tian-Min and all co-authors!
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
Fresh off the press…our latest study on the Structure of a Gcn2 dimer in complex with the large 60S ribosomal subunit | great collaboration with inada and Zaher labs. Data collected by Bertrand Beckert at the DCI EPFL
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Structure of a Gcn2 dimer in complex with the large 60S ribosomal subunit | PNAS
The integrated stress response (ISR) is a central signaling network that enables eukaryotic
cells to respond to a variety of different environmenta...
www.pnas.org
April 8, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Fresh off the press…our latest study on the Structure of a Gcn2 dimer in complex with the large 60S ribosomal subunit | great collaboration with inada and Zaher labs. Data collected by Bertrand Beckert at the DCI EPFL
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
RNA researcher Anastasia Khvorova, PhD, professor of RNA therapeutics at UMass Chan Medical School, receives the Else Kröner Fresenius Prize for Medical Research 2025! @umasschan.bsky.social Congratulations! 🎉
For more details:
www.ekfs.de/en/current-t...
www.ekfprize25.de
#EKFprize25 #EKFS
For more details:
www.ekfs.de/en/current-t...
www.ekfprize25.de
#EKFprize25 #EKFS
April 7, 2025 at 8:46 AM
RNA researcher Anastasia Khvorova, PhD, professor of RNA therapeutics at UMass Chan Medical School, receives the Else Kröner Fresenius Prize for Medical Research 2025! @umasschan.bsky.social Congratulations! 🎉
For more details:
www.ekfs.de/en/current-t...
www.ekfprize25.de
#EKFprize25 #EKFS
For more details:
www.ekfs.de/en/current-t...
www.ekfprize25.de
#EKFprize25 #EKFS
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
Taking a cue from @cantlonlab.bsky.social, I have written an op-ed for my local newspaper about the impact of the NIH funding chaos. I'd appreciate it if you read and share. #NIH #Research #Science #Worcester
www.telegram.com/story/opinio...
www.telegram.com/story/opinio...
Opinion/Guest column: Gutting NIH a disaster in the marking for research, local economy
Less research equates to less business between the university and these Worcester companies, spreading the pain far beyond campus borders.
www.telegram.com
March 2, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Taking a cue from @cantlonlab.bsky.social, I have written an op-ed for my local newspaper about the impact of the NIH funding chaos. I'd appreciate it if you read and share. #NIH #Research #Science #Worcester
www.telegram.com/story/opinio...
www.telegram.com/story/opinio...
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
E. coli HrpA RNA helicase rescue collided ribosomes. From Buskirk-Beckmann-Green labs #RNASky #Ribosome 🧪 #MicroSky www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
The RNA helicase HrpA rescues collided ribosomes in E. coli
Antibiotics that inhibit ribosomes lead to collisions on mRNAs when upstream ribosomes
catch up with stalled ones. Campbell et al. show that the HrpA protein in E. coli
senses ribosome collisions and ...
www.cell.com
February 8, 2025 at 11:44 AM
E. coli HrpA RNA helicase rescue collided ribosomes. From Buskirk-Beckmann-Green labs #RNASky #Ribosome 🧪 #MicroSky www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
Our paper on Stopless-ORF Circular RNAs (socRNAs) is now out in Cell. By high-res tracking and comparing translation by either single or multiple ribosomes, we find that ribosomes cooperate to overcome pausing to ensure fast and efficient translation
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Long-term imaging of individual ribosomes reveals ribosome cooperativity in mRNA translation
Ribosomes cooperate through transient collisions to ensure efficient translation.
www.cell.com
February 3, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Our paper on Stopless-ORF Circular RNAs (socRNAs) is now out in Cell. By high-res tracking and comparing translation by either single or multiple ribosomes, we find that ribosomes cooperate to overcome pausing to ensure fast and efficient translation
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
Our review on small endogenous RNAs in animals is online: www.nature.com/articles/s41.... We thank @martinjsimard.bsky.social, @svobodalab.bsky.social and the third, anonymous, reviewer for helping us improve our manuscript. @lbmcinlyon.bsky.social @cnrsbiologie.bsky.social
A guide to the biogenesis and functions of endogenous small non-coding RNAs in animals - Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
Many new small RNA species and their derived fragments have been recently identified in animals. This Review discusses the biogenesis and functions of both structural small RNAs, such as tRNAs and sma...
www.nature.com
January 24, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Our review on small endogenous RNAs in animals is online: www.nature.com/articles/s41.... We thank @martinjsimard.bsky.social, @svobodalab.bsky.social and the third, anonymous, reviewer for helping us improve our manuscript. @lbmcinlyon.bsky.social @cnrsbiologie.bsky.social
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
"On a molecular level, our structural studies reveal that interdictors bind in a linkerless heterobifunctional manner to both the rRNA and the nascent peptide chain ... much the way a PROTAC can be modularly designed and constructed"
January 10, 2025 at 8:00 PM
"On a molecular level, our structural studies reveal that interdictors bind in a linkerless heterobifunctional manner to both the rRNA and the nascent peptide chain ... much the way a PROTAC can be modularly designed and constructed"
Gabriel Demo and colleagues found how a small archaeal protein (aRDF) dimerizes 30S subunits to prevent ribosome formation:
A growing list of anti-association factors, this time a 30S-dimerization factor in archaea #Ribosome #RNASky 🧪 ⤵️ doi.org/10.1093/nar/...
Novel archaeal ribosome dimerization factor facilitating unique 30S–30S dimerization
Abstract. Protein synthesis (translation) consumes a substantial proportion of cellular resources, prompting specialized mechanisms to reduce translation u
doi.org
January 13, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Gabriel Demo and colleagues found how a small archaeal protein (aRDF) dimerizes 30S subunits to prevent ribosome formation:
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
Using reporters with long unstructured 5’ UTRs, we examined which initiation factors are limiting for 40S scanning in yeast. Our results&literature led to the model that 40S scans 5’ UTRs for the start codon by one-dimensional diffusion rather than by helicase-driven translocation.
40S ribosomal subunits scan mRNA for the start codon by one-dimensional diffusion
During eukaryotic translation initiation, the small (40S) ribosomal subunit is recruited to the 5ʹ cap and subsequently scans the 5ʹ untranslated region (5ʹ UTR) of mRNA in search of the start codon. ...
www.biorxiv.org
January 7, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Using reporters with long unstructured 5’ UTRs, we examined which initiation factors are limiting for 40S scanning in yeast. Our results&literature led to the model that 40S scans 5’ UTRs for the start codon by one-dimensional diffusion rather than by helicase-driven translocation.
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
Our latest work is out in Nature today! Using smFRET, we directly visualized recruitment of the eIF4F complex to the 5' cap of eukaryotic mRNAs and formation of an activated mRNA. Our findings reveal new and surprising roles for each eIF4F component. 1/3 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
December 11, 2024 at 9:35 PM
Our latest work is out in Nature today! Using smFRET, we directly visualized recruitment of the eIF4F complex to the 5' cap of eukaryotic mRNAs and formation of an activated mRNA. Our findings reveal new and surprising roles for each eIF4F component. 1/3 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
RiSANA is online!
We detail the Ribosome Stimulated Angiogenin Nuclease Assay (RiSANA) to explore: (a) whether Angiogenin is activated by bacterial 70S ribosomes; and (b) whether the closest homolog RNase 4 is stimulated by 80S: tinyurl.com/3fftczrw
Congrats Emily Sholi and Anna Loveland!
We detail the Ribosome Stimulated Angiogenin Nuclease Assay (RiSANA) to explore: (a) whether Angiogenin is activated by bacterial 70S ribosomes; and (b) whether the closest homolog RNase 4 is stimulated by 80S: tinyurl.com/3fftczrw
Congrats Emily Sholi and Anna Loveland!
December 6, 2024 at 11:43 PM
RiSANA is online!
We detail the Ribosome Stimulated Angiogenin Nuclease Assay (RiSANA) to explore: (a) whether Angiogenin is activated by bacterial 70S ribosomes; and (b) whether the closest homolog RNase 4 is stimulated by 80S: tinyurl.com/3fftczrw
Congrats Emily Sholi and Anna Loveland!
We detail the Ribosome Stimulated Angiogenin Nuclease Assay (RiSANA) to explore: (a) whether Angiogenin is activated by bacterial 70S ribosomes; and (b) whether the closest homolog RNase 4 is stimulated by 80S: tinyurl.com/3fftczrw
Congrats Emily Sholi and Anna Loveland!
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
This is a lovely piece about the 2024 Nobel Prize to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, written by Bruce Wightman, the first author of one of the prize-winning papers. It emphasizes the importance of fundamental research and the beauty of heterochronic genes. #Celegans #devbio 🧪🧬 doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
It's about time: the heterochronic background for the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Summary: The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded for the discovery of miRNAs; the groundwork was laid by investigating the timing of developmental events in nematodes.
doi.org
November 27, 2024 at 2:51 PM
This is a lovely piece about the 2024 Nobel Prize to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, written by Bruce Wightman, the first author of one of the prize-winning papers. It emphasizes the importance of fundamental research and the beauty of heterochronic genes. #Celegans #devbio 🧪🧬 doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
Yeast ribosomes adapt to glucose starvation by tethering to mitochondria in hibernation. Prolonged depletion halts protein synthesis and remodels ribosomes to create protective ribosome arrays. #ribosomes #RNASky #RNABiology #translation rdcu.be/d1xqj
Ribosomes hibernate on mitochondria during cellular stress
Nature Communications - Cells adapt to low glucose by halting protein synthesis and altering organelle shape. Here the authors showed that hibernating ribosomes tether to mitochondria and form...
rdcu.be
November 26, 2024 at 4:21 PM
Yeast ribosomes adapt to glucose starvation by tethering to mitochondria in hibernation. Prolonged depletion halts protein synthesis and remodels ribosomes to create protective ribosome arrays. #ribosomes #RNASky #RNABiology #translation rdcu.be/d1xqj
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
Very happy to share our new publication on the interaction between two nonsense mediated mRNA decay factors (Upf1 and yeast Nmd4 or human SMG6). 🍾
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
November 21, 2024 at 3:31 PM
Very happy to share our new publication on the interaction between two nonsense mediated mRNA decay factors (Upf1 and yeast Nmd4 or human SMG6). 🍾
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
The dark side of fluorescent protein tagging: the impact of protein tags on biomolecular condensation
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 25, 2024 at 12:19 PM
The dark side of fluorescent protein tagging: the impact of protein tags on biomolecular condensation
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
instant classic, timeless insights, from the legend himself
"The three central functions of protein synthesis...evolved from the properties of RNA, the founding macromolecule of life....these functions (and even life itself) seem to proceed in defiance of entropy."
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
"The three central functions of protein synthesis...evolved from the properties of RNA, the founding macromolecule of life....these functions (and even life itself) seem to proceed in defiance of entropy."
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
The ribosome comes to life
The ribosome is an ancient molecular machine that coverts the genetic information
carried by mRNA into protein, a crucial step in linking genotype to phenotype. This
review discusses landmark advances...
www.cell.com
November 24, 2024 at 7:49 PM
instant classic, timeless insights, from the legend himself
"The three central functions of protein synthesis...evolved from the properties of RNA, the founding macromolecule of life....these functions (and even life itself) seem to proceed in defiance of entropy."
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
"The three central functions of protein synthesis...evolved from the properties of RNA, the founding macromolecule of life....these functions (and even life itself) seem to proceed in defiance of entropy."
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Reposted by Korostelev Lab
How long does an mRNA stay in the nucleus? How long does it stay in the cytoplasm? In an amazing collaboration with @landthalerm.bsky.social, we used metabolic labeling, cell fractionation and mathematical modeling to quantify mRNA flow through the cell. Finally out in MSB: doi.org/10.1038/s443...
November 21, 2024 at 2:56 PM
How long does an mRNA stay in the nucleus? How long does it stay in the cytoplasm? In an amazing collaboration with @landthalerm.bsky.social, we used metabolic labeling, cell fractionation and mathematical modeling to quantify mRNA flow through the cell. Finally out in MSB: doi.org/10.1038/s443...