Exploring RNA conformational transitions using high pressure

伦斯勒理工学院（RPI）的凯瑟琳·罗耶博士获得了化学部门生命过程化学项目的奖项，他正在描绘RNA的特征。RNA被认为是早期生命形式的原始中心分子。了解是什么控制着RNA分子的结构、动力学和功能，是拼凑地球上生命是如何开始和进化的关键。利用压力变化诱导RNA结构的变化，开辟了生物化学研究的全新途径。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。这项研究包括通过参与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方面的培训。通过RPI的生物化学和生物物理学本科暑期研究项目，女性和未被充分代表的少数族裔正在STEM研究中得到提升。这个项目主要招收来自少数民族院校的本科生。通过法国、德国和日本强大的国际合作网络，为研究生和本科生提供国际实习机会。该研究的总体目标是利用高静水压力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摩尔体积的差异，对于RNA来说，这是由空隙和水合作用的差异引起的。RNA的压力扰动可以定量评估水合作用和离子缩合作用在RNA结构动力学中的变化。研究了两种表征良好的模型RNA系统；tRNALys3和偶氮弧菌I组核酶，使用NMR，荧光，FTIR和SAXS的组合。研究的目的是确定压力对这些模型RNA分子的结构和动态影响，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。

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.