Jonathan S. Weissman

To ensure proper folding, cells have evolved a sophisticated and essential machinery of proteins called molecular chaperones that assists the folding of newly made polypeptides and disposes of misfolded proteins. The importance of proper protein folding is underscored by the fact that a number of diseases, including Alzheimer's and those involving infectious proteins (prions), result from protein-misfolding events. My research focuses on identifying and understanding the machinery necessary for efficient folding, as well as studying the mechanism and consequences of protein misfolding especially as it relates to prion-based inheritance. We are also developing experimental and analytical approaches for exploring the organizational principles of complex biological systems as well as tools for globally monitoring protein translation with sub-codon resolution.