Faculty of Arts & Science
Biochemistry

Email: ute.kothe@uleth.ca

Webpage: http://people.uleth.ca/~ute.kothe/

Biochemistry of ribosome biogenesis and tRNA maturation

Ribosome biogenesis is a complex assembly process generating the cell’s protein factories consisting of four large RNAs and more than 50 proteins. As ribosomes are of critical importance for each cell, alterations in ribosome biogenesis lead to human diseases. In order to better understand ribosome formation on a molecular level, our research focuses on the early steps of this process where only a small number of factors are involved. In particular, we study the modification of functional RNAs such as ribosomal and transfer RNA both in bacteria and eukaryotes.

By using highly purified components, we re-create this process under defined conditions in the test tube with the aim of identifying critical, limiting steps. Our approach is multi-disciplinary including molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics and genetics allowing us to gain detailed insight into the functional cooperation of proteins and RNA in the assembly of cellular machines. Within the Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute (ARRTI), we belong to the Laboratory for structure and function of small noncoding RNAs as well as the Laboratory for biomolecular design and engineering.

Recent Publications:

Kamalampeta, R., and Kothe, U. (2012) Archaeal proteins Nop10 and Gar1 increase the catalytic activity of Cbf5 in pseudouridylating tRNA. Scientific Reports, 2: 663, DOI: 10.1038/srep00663

Kothe, U. (2012) New frontiers in studying pseudouridine formation in RNA. Cell News (DGZ Journal) 2/2012, 48-56 (invited review)

Wright, J.R., Keffer-Wilkes, L.C., Dobing, S.R., and Kothe, U. (2011) Pre-steady-state kinetic analysis of the three Escherichia coli pseudouridine synthases TruB, TruA and RluA reveals uniformly slow catalysis. RNA, 17, 2074-2084

Kothe, U. (2010) Recent Progress on Understanding Ribosomal Protein Synthesis. In Comprehensive Natural Products II Chemistry and Biology, Section Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins, Elsevier: Oxford, UK, 2010, Volume 5, 353-382 (invited)

Group members (current)

1. Rajashekhar Kamalampeta (Ph.D. student)
2. Laura Keffer-Wilkes (Ph.D. student)
3. Jenna Friedt (M.Sc. student)
4. Evan Caton (M.Sc. student)
5. Nicole van Meetelen (undergraduate)
6. Erin Kelly (undergraduate)
7. John Steyn (undergraduate)
8. Erin Kelly (undergraduate)

Former Students

• Justin Luu (undergraduate)

Some Successes in 2012:

• CIHR Synapse Mentorship Award 2012 - Individual Researcher, $ 5,000, for Ute Kothe in recognition of science outreach activities and organizing RiboWest Conferences
• Poster award at RiboWest conference for Jenna Friedt
• 1^st Presentation Award for graduate students in Biochemistry for Jenna Friedt at 6^th annual Chinook Symposium for Chemistry & Biochemistry 2012
• Loren Hepler Gold Medal for Ph.D. Research Excellence, second place, for Laura Keffer-Wilkes at 6^th annual Chinook Symposium for Chemistry & Biochemistry 2012