Feinberg Faculty and Trainees Share Advances in Protein Synthesis at International Gordon Research Conference

Members of Northwestern University's Department of Pharmacology recently led and participated in the Translation Machinery in Health and Disease Gordon Research Conference (GRC), a premier five-day international conference held in Pomona California, from February 23-28.  

The conference, themed "Molecular Insights into Protein Synthesis in Health and Disease," convened scientists from across all career stages and from around the world. Attendees explored cutting-edge discoveries in the field, from fundamental molecular mechanisms to the impact of their dysregulation across a spectrum of diseases and areas such as neurological disorders, cancer, immunity, aging and rare diseases. 

Among key leaders at the conference was Katherine Borden, PhD, the Hospira Foundation Professor of Translational Cancer Biology and professor of Pharmacology at Feinberg.  

"This meeting provided an important venue to discuss the latest breakthroughs in protein synthesis, its dysregulation in human disease and the capacity of using that knowledge to improve human health," said Borden, who served as one of two GRC co-chairs. "It also provided outstanding opportunities for scientific discussions and one-on-one meetings, which are so important for building new collaborations and lay the groundwork for new discoveries."

Northwestern’s presence extended beyond conference leadership, with other faculty and trainees presenting their research findings, contributing to the scientific discourse.  

Daniel Arango, PhD, assistant professor of Pharmacology, highlighted his research on the significance of naturally occurring RNA modifications in regulating protein synthesis. By performing biochemical experiments, the study found that the methylation of start codons acts as regulators of upstream open reading frames (uORF) by blocking the interaction of ribosomes with mRNAs. This discovery sheds light on a mechanism of gene control, with potential implications for understanding and treating diseases linked to uORF dysregulation such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders.  

Zhe Ji, PhD, assistant professor of Pharmacology, presented a novel statistical framework, called PepScore, used to identify microproteins encoded by noncanonical open reading frames and predict their stability. Ji’s work, published in Nature Communications, uncovers thousands of previously overlooked species-specific young peptides and shows that some are critical to mitochondrial function and cell proliferation, providing new insights into gene regulation and disease mechanisms. 

Biljana Kraljacic, PhD, research associate professor of Pharmacology from the Katherine Borden Lab, presented findings on how translation enables leukemia cells to invade bone marrow stroma. Her work showed that as leukemia cells crawl through the stroma, they form extensions capable of synthesizing proteins involved in cancer cell invasion, supplying the cell with necessary factors at the site of action. These findings enhance understanding of leukemia and other cancers prone to metastasis. 

In addition to faculty contributions, the conference also demonstrated a commitment to fostering the next generation of scientists through mentorship and trainee development. 

Fifth-year DGP student Dalton Huey, from the Al George Lab, gave a talk during the trainee-focused Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), held in the two days leading up to the GRC, on his thesis work identifying a regulatory mechanism that suppresses production of the neuronal potassium channel KCNQ2. By disrupting this mechanism, KCNQ2 synthesis is promoted, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for disorders linked to KCNQ2 insufficiency, particularly childhood epilepsy. 

Borden, who also led a discussion on careers in science during the GRS trainee sessions, highlighted the trainee’s enthusiasm and how inspiring their commitment to scientific excellence was.  

Reflecting on his experience, Huey, first-time attendee of the GRC and GRS, emphasized how the conference broadened his perspective and helped shape his thoughts on future research directions. 

"I attended all sessions, which exposed me to a very wide range of research done in the field that I was previously unaware of," said Huey. "As someone who is starting to consider my next career step, it is a critical time for me to identify what research direction I would like to pursue in the future."