Project Grant 2223241

This $837,754 National Science Foundation project grant will fund research into the impact of the KFERQ protein degradation motif in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans. A collaborative team from the City University of New York's Queens College and an Israeli institution will use genetically engineered C. elegans expressing a fluorescent fusion protein to study how proteins are selected and broken down based on the KFERQ motif sequence. The researchers aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and genetic pathways that regulate protein turnover mediated by the KFERQ-like motif in C. elegans. Comparative analysis with higher organisms may provide insights into the evolutionary origin and conservation of this degradation mechanism. Additionally, the award will support training of undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented minority groups in scientific research methods through co-mentorship opportunities in the collaborative labs. This project aligns with the goals of the NSF's Biological Sciences program to advance biological knowledge and address major issues through basic research support.