Crystal Conn

Crystal Conn investigates the emerging concept that ribosomes are not homogeneous machines but rather heterogeneous complexes with specialized translational functions that are co-opted by cancer cells to selectively translate oncogenic mRNAs. Her laboratory has identified ribosomal protein variants and modifications that create cancer-specific onco-ribosomes with altered translational preferences. She has contributed to understanding how ribosome heterogeneity enables translational reprogramming during tumor evolution. Her work challenges the textbook view of the ribosome and reveals new cancer therapeutic targets.