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

本研究的长期目标是利用RNA碱基的硫代衍生物和磷酸二酯来探索或利用金属离子与核酸的结合。 第一个项目使用一个单一的硫代磷酸酯修饰，直接金属离子交联剂的四膜虫核酶的研究核酶结构和RNA的选择性失活的目的。 第二个项目研究金属离子结合4-硫代尿苷和6-硫代鸟苷，并将4-硫代尿苷纳入锤头状核酶的位置被认为是重要的金属离子结合。 金属离子-RNA相互作用是RNA结构的关键组成部分，并且在用于RNA失活的治疗剂的开发中是重要的。 课堂和研究实验室的互动活动涉及本科和研究生化学专业的女学生。 正在教授研究生一级的生物无机化学跨学科课程，并正在举办一系列关于物理科学职业的研讨会，以吸引女生考虑物理科学学位。

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.