RUI: Thermodynamics of RNA Structural Motifs

RUI：RNA 结构基序的热力学

• 批准号: 1050780
• 负责人: Martin Serra
• 金额: $ 23.96万
• 依托单位: Allegheny College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-03-01 至 2015-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1050780&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Thermodynamics; RNA; Structural; Motifs

The objective of this RUI project is to develop models to predict the structure of RNA molecules from their sequence. RNAs are intimately involved in a wide variety of biological activities. During the process of gene expression, they serve as informational molecules and part of the decoding machinery. Biological molecules, including RNA, must fold into the correct three-dimensional shape to acquire their active-functional form. These studies will combine both stability and structural characterization of RNA duplexes to achieve a better understanding of the nature of RNA structure. Undergraduate students will perform all of the investigations, including the selection of sequences to be investigated, providing them with excellent training and valuable research experience. Students from the PI's laboratory have an excellent track record for attending graduate and professional schools after obtaining their BS degrees. Since 2005, eight of these students are attending graduate school in either chemistry or biochemistry; and, eight are attending professional school. The graduate programs attended by the students include Yale University, University of Rochester, Penn State University, Duke University, Carnegie Mellon University, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Since 2000, 27 of the PI's students have been co-authors on papers. One of the students won the undergraduate poster competition at the National AAAS meeting in 1995. In addition, a high school chemistry teacher will be recruited to join the research group during the summer. The high school teacher will have the opportunity to engage in authentic research using state-of-the-art techniques, methodology and instrumentation. This will enhance the teacher's abilities and experience base and make for a richer teaching and learning experience in high school science classes.

这个RUI项目的目标是开发模型来预测RNA分子的结构。 RNA与多种生物活性密切相关。 在基因表达过程中，它们作为信息分子和解码机器的一部分。 生物分子，包括RNA，必须折叠成正确的三维形状，以获得其活性功能形式。 这些研究将联合收割机结合RNA双链体的稳定性和结构表征，以更好地理解RNA结构的性质。本科生将执行所有调查，包括选择要调查的序列，为他们提供优秀的培训和宝贵的研究经验。 PI实验室的学生在获得学士学位后，在研究生院和专业学校就读的记录非常好。 自2005年以来，这些学生中有8人在化学或生物化学研究生院就读; 8人在专业学校就读。 学生参加的研究生课程包括耶鲁大学，罗切斯特大学，宾夕法尼亚州立大学，杜克大学，卡内基梅隆大学和伊利诺伊大学香槟分校。 自2000年以来，PI的学生中有27人是论文的共同作者。 其中一名学生在1995年的全国AAAS会议上赢得了本科生海报比赛。 此外，一名高中化学教师将在夏季加入研究小组。 高中教师将有机会使用最先进的技术，方法和仪器进行真实的研究。这将提高教师的能力和经验基础，使更丰富的教学和学习经验，在高中科学课。