VPW: Thio Derivatives of Nuclei Acids for the Study of Metal Ion Binding Sites and RNA Structure

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The long term goal of this research is to use thio derivatives of RNA bases and phosphate diesters to explore or to exploit metal ion binding on nucleic acids. The first project uses a single phosphorothioate modification to direct a metal ion cross-linking agent to a Tetrahymena ribozyme for the purpose of studying ribozyme structure and selective inactivation of RNA. The second project examines metal ion binding to 4-thiouridine and 6- thioguanosine and incorporate a 4-thiouridine into a Hammerhead ribozyme in positions thought to be important in metal ion binding. Metal-ion-RNA interactions are a key component of RNA structure and are important in the development of therapeutic agents for the inactivation of RNA. Interactive activities in the classroom and in the research laboratory involve both undergraduate and graduate female chemistry students. A graduate level interdisciplinary course in bioinorganic chemistry is being taught, and a seminar series is being run on careers in the physical sciences in order to induce female students to consider physical science degrees.