Exploring RNA conformational transitions using high pressure

利用高压探索 RNA 构象转变

• 批准号: 1610691
• 负责人: Catherine Royer
• 金额: $ 35.2万
• 依托单位: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-09-01 至 2020-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1610691&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Exploring; RNA; conformational; transitions; using

With this award from the Chemistry of Life Processes Program in the Chemistry Division Dr. Catherine Royer from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is characterizing RNA. RNA is thought to be the original central molecule of early life forms. Understanding what controls the structure and dynamics, and thus function, of RNA molecules is key to piecing together how life began and evolved on earth. Pressure changes are used to induce changes in RNA structure, opening an entirely new avenue of biochemical research. Pressure is particularly appropriate because life is thought to have evolved in the oceans, and thus under pressure. The research involves promotion of scientific fields to high school students via participation in the high school student mentoring program at RPI's Center for Biotechnology. Graduate and undergraduate students are being trained in state-of-the-art biophysical chemistry. Women and underrepresented minorities are being promoted in STEM research, through the undergraduate Summer Research Program in biochemistry and biophysics at RPI. This program hosts undergraduates from primarily minority-serving colleges. International internship opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students are being provided through strong international network of collaborators in France, Germany and Japan.The global objective of the research is to structurally and energetically characterize tertiary conformational transitions of structured RNA molecules using high hydrostatic pressure. Pressure effects on biopolymer conformational equilibria are due to differences in molar volume between states, which for RNA, arise from differences in voids and hydration effects. Pressure perturbation of RNA allows quantitative assessment of the changes in hydration and ion condensation implicated in RNA structural dynamics. Two well-characterized model RNA systems are investigated; tRNALys3 and the Azoarcus group I ribozyme, using a combination of NMR, fluorescence, FTIR and SAXS. Research is aimed specifically at determining the structural and dynamic effects of pressure on these model RNA molecules, the quantitative contributions of hydration and ion interactions to the structural transitions and the role of conserved nucleotides in controlling RNA conformational transitions.

来自伦斯勒理工学院（RPI）的Catherine Royer博士正在表征RNA。RNA被认为是早期生命形式的原始中心分子。了解是什么控制了RNA分子的结构和动力学，从而控制了RNA分子的功能，是拼凑地球上生命如何开始和进化的关键。压力变化被用来诱导RNA结构的变化，为生物化学研究开辟了一条全新的途径。压力是特别合适的，因为生命被认为是在海洋中进化的，因此是在压力下进化的。这项研究涉及通过参加RPI生物技术中心的高中生指导计划向高中生推广科学领域。研究生和本科生正在接受最先进的生物物理化学培训。妇女和代表性不足的少数民族正在通过RPI的生物化学和生物物理学本科夏季研究计划促进STEM研究。该计划主要接待来自少数民族服务大学的本科生。 通过在法国、德国和日本的强大的国际合作者网络，为研究生和本科生提供国际实习机会。该研究的全球目标是利用高静水压在结构和能量上表征结构化RNA分子的三级构象转变。压力对生物聚合物构象平衡的影响是由于状态之间的摩尔体积差异，这对于RNA来说，是由空隙和水合作用的差异引起的。压力扰动的RNA允许定量评估的变化，涉及RNA结构动力学的水化和离子凝聚。两个良好的特征模型RNA系统进行了研究; tRNALys 3和Azoarcus组I核酶，使用NMR，荧光，FTIR和SAXS的组合。研究的具体目的是确定压力对这些模型RNA分子的结构和动力学影响，水合作用和离子相互作用对结构转变的定量贡献，以及保守核苷酸在控制RNA构象转变中的作用。