Biochemische Charakterisierung der Ribonukleoprotein-vermittelten Mobiliät von non-LTR-Retrotransposons

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Non-LTR retrotransposons are mobile genetic elements found in almost every eukarotic organism. Their unparalleled impact on genome plasticity and their elaborate RNA-mediated replication mechanism (target primed reverse transcription, TPRT) make them important subjects of study both from an evolutionary and biochemical point of view. In this study, I will set up a new model system to biochemically characterize the RNA/protein machinery that performs the retrotransposition process. By probing the structure of this ribonucleoprotein complex with chemical modification and crosslinking experiments, I will map the RNA/protein interface. Mechanistic studies will involve in-depth kinetic analysis of the reverse transcription process using a variety of different substrates. The results of this study will shed light on how large portions of the genome are generated and enable us to better manipulate retrotransposons for biotechnological and medical purposes. Besides, comparison with related systems like telomerases and group II introns will provide us with new insights into how RNA and proteins cooperate and how they change their functions during evolution.