Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Regulation of gene expression at the translational level, incorporation and utilization of selenocysteine.
Our primary research question targets the protein synthetic machinery as one of the primary sites for the regulation of gene expression and an important sensor of the status of cellular metabolite concentrations including trace elements. The utilization of selenium exemplifies this relationship, and is required for the synthesis and function of an essential group of proteins that contain the amino acid selenocysteine (Sec). In fact, many selenoproteins are known to provide protection from cellular damage and transformation, thus making the synthesis and regulation of these proteins an essential area of research. Sec is incorporated into these proteins by a translational recoding event at specific Stop (UGA) codons that are found upstream of stable stem-loop structures known as Sec insertion sequence (SECIS) elements. While the UGA codon and the SECIS element are the only known cis-acting elements required for Sec incorporation, at least two trans-acting factors are also required: 1) the Sec-specific elongation factor (eEFSec) and 2) a SECIS binding protein (SBP2). One of the ultimate goals for our research is to be able to specifically regulate the expression of potentially beneficial selenoproteins in vivo. In order to achieve this goal, we must understand all of the factors that contribute not only to the basic Sec incorporation reaction but also to the regulation of this process.
Education/Academic qualification
Biology, BS, Loyola University Chicago
Biology, PhD, University of Virginia
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 7 Finished
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A novel RNA sensor responds to stress and regulates selenium distribution in mammals
Copeland, P. & SHETTY, S.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
4/1/21 → 3/31/22
Project: Research project
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Expanding The Genetic Code In Yeast
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
9/1/10 → 8/31/15
Project: Research project
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Functional analysis of SBP2 and selenocysteine incorporation
Copeland, P. & COPELAND, P.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
1/6/06 → 1/31/22
Project: Research project
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The translational control of selenoprotein synthesis
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
8/1/03 → 7/31/09
Project: Research project
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Structure of the mammalian ribosome as it decodes the selenocysteine UGA codon
Hilal, T., Killam, B. Y., Grozdanović, M., Dobosz-Bartoszek, M., Loerke, J., Bürger, J., Mielke, T., Copeland, P. R., Simonović, M. & Spahn, C. M. T., Jun 17 2022, In: Science. 376, 6599Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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The expression of essential selenoproteins during development requires SECIS-binding protein 2-like
Kiledjian, N. T., Shah, R., Vetick, M. B. & Copeland, P. R., May 2022, In: Life science alliance. 5, 5, e202101291.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
The selenoprotein P 3’ untranslated region is an RNA binding protein platform that fine tunes selenocysteine incorporation
Shetty, S. P., Kiledjian, N. T. & Copeland, P. R., Jul 2022, In: PLoS One. 17, 7 July, e0271453.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Protein modifications: Biosynthesis of selenoproteins
Pinkerton, M. H. & Copeland, P. R., Jul 29 2021, Encyclopedia of Biological Chemistry: Third Edition. Elsevier, Vol. 3. p. 186-191 6 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Ribosome fate during decoding of uga-sec codons
Copeland, P. R. & Howard, M. T., Dec 1 2021, In: International journal of molecular sciences. 22, 24, 13204.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access