How SMN Protein Moves and Maintains Nucleolar Health

Our team studies how the SMN protein, essential for cell function, moves between Cajal bodies and the nucleolus and helps maintain their proper organization. We have shown that after UV light or oxidative stress, SMN travels in a precisely timed way, guided by its partners Coilin, Fibrillarin, and PRMT1.
We are now exploring other proteins that may work with SMN, including newly discovered partners, which could play important roles in nucleolar organization and DNA repair. Using advanced BioID proteomics in engineered cells, we aim to map the network of proteins coordinating these movements and interactions.
This research helps us understand the complex protein network that keeps the nucleolus and Cajal bodies functioning, ensuring the cell can recover from DNA damage and maintain its health.