Awarded in 2012
Home Department: Applied Physics
Faculty Advisors: Joseph Puglisi (Structural Biology) and Michael Levitt (Structural Biology)

Research Title: Single molecule ribosome profiling of translational phenomena

Research Description: Ribosome translation is one of the most fundamental processes in organisms, converting the genetic code stored in RNA to proteins. Translation is an important regulatory and control point for gene expression, and links to misregulation of protein translation are being identified in an increasing number of diseases. Thus, understanding how ribosomes synthesize protein and how other protein factors interact with the ribosome during the process is crucial. The goal of Jin’s project is to use a combination of fluorescence, nanophotonic, and computational techniques to study the dynamics of single ribosomes in real-time as they synthesize proteins. Through a multiplexed detection technique, thousands of "single" ribosomes can be observed simultaneously. The single-molecule approach allows the study of the intrinsic dynamics of translation and the detection of rare translational events that may be linked to diseases.

WHERE IS HE NOW?

Jin is a Principal Investigator at Altos Labs.