Dissertation Research: Experimental in Vivo Evolution of the RNase P RNA Ribozyme

本研究采用实验方法探索所有代谢的基本组成部分，核糖核蛋白RNase P.由催化活性RNA和伴生蛋白组成，RNase P存在于所有生物体中，尽管形式不同。研究人员的目标是了解形成RNase P多样性的力量。为此，他们开发了一种体内进化系统，允许他们将来自不同生物体的RNase P引入大肠杆菌。然后，他们将能够跟踪这个引入的RNase P在其新的细胞环境中的进化，从而直接了解复杂代谢的单个成分的进化。这种方法不仅可以阐明RNase P的作用和灵活性，而且实际上是一种可推广的实验策略，用于研究任何蛋白质或催化RNA的功能。这种方法还扩展了进化分析的能力，为更传统的回顾性方法提供了动态的、基于实验的补充。

Dorit9902351This study uses an experimental approach to explore a fundamental component of all metabolisms, the ribonucleoprotein RNase P. Composed of a catalytically active RNA and a companion protein, RNase P is present in all organisms, albeit in different forms. The investigators' objective is to understand the forces that have shaped the diversity of RNase P. To do so, they have developed a system for in vivo evolution that allows them to introduce an RNase P from a different organism into the E.coli bacterium. They will then be in a position to follow the evolution of this introduced RNase P in its new cellular environment, providing a direct glimpse into the evolution of single component of complex metabolisms. This approach will not only shed light on the action and flexibility of RNase P, but is in effect a generalizable experimental strategy for investigating the function of any protein or catalytic RNA of interest. This approach also extends the power of evolutionary analysis by providing a dynamic, experimentally based complement to more conventional retrospective approaches.