INCISIVE PROBING OF NUCLEIC ACID CONFORMATIONAL HETEROGENEITY

该子项目是利用 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得主要资金， 因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是 中心，不一定是研究者的机构。 核酸中的构象异质性由核酸的复杂和崎岖的能量景观暗示，这控制了它们的折叠和功能。 此外，有越来越多的证据表明，在短暂的中间体，以及蛋白质和结构化RNA的最终折叠状态的异质性。 尽管核酸构象异质性的基本重要性，但由于缺乏合适的实验技术，尚未对其进行适当的研究。一种新开发的基于Au-SAXS的X射线标尺提供了分子系综的距离概率分布。这种技术提供了一种独特的和强大的探针的大分子构象异质性。我们建议研究模块化DNA和RNA结构的构象灵活性和异质性，包括A道，凸起，单链和双链连接和简单的功能RNA结构，如HIV TAR RNA。 我们打算测量这些核酸结构的构象分布和异质性，并将分布与核酸折叠和功能联系起来。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The conformational heterogeneity in nucleic acids is implied by the complex and rugged energy landscape of nucleic acids, which controls their folding and function. Moreover, there is increased evidence of heterogeneity in transient intermediates as well as the final folded state of proteins and structured RNAs. Despite the fundamental importance of conformational heterogeneity in nucleic acids, it has not been properly studied due to a lack of suitable experimental techniques. A newly developed Au-SAXS-based x-ray ruler provides the distance probability distribution of an ensemble of molecules. This technique provides a unique and powerful probe of macromolecular conformational heterogeneity. We propose to study the conformational flexibility and heterogeneity of modular DNA and RNA structures, including A-tract, bulges, single-stranded and double stranded junctions and simple functional RNA structure such as the HIV TAR RNA. We intend to measure the conformational distributions and heterogeneity in these nucleic acids structures and relate the distributions to nucleic acid folding and function.