Amanjot Singh

Protein quality control (PQC) system, which include chaperones and components of proteasome, ubiquitin, autophagy and lysosomal systems play important roles in almost all aspects of biology. Recent research has revealed new roles for PQC in dynamics of biological condensates (such as stress granules (SGs)) which are rapidly reversible assemblies formed via quinary interactions (which are both transient and multivalent) among the component RNAs and proteins. Such condensates sequester proteins involved in specific biological pathways or serve as an environment for the management of misfolded proteins. High concentration of misfolded and disordered proteins in condensates makes them prone to support formation of pathogenic protein aggregates of an irreversible nature. Work in the lab involves elucidating how the PQC is involved in the dynamics of condensates/SGs. We also test the molecular basis of such sequestration of other proteins in SGs or pathological aggregates and how this rewires cellular homeostasis during stress, aging and neurodegeneration.