Dissertation Research: Experimental in Vivo Evolution of the RNase P RNA Ribozyme

本研究使用一种实验方法来探索所有代谢物的一个基本成分，核糖核蛋白RNaseP，它由一个催化活性的RNA和一个伴生蛋白RNaseP组成，尽管形式不同，但在所有生物体中都存在。研究人员的目标是了解塑造RNaseP多样性的力量。为了做到这一点，他们开发了一种体内进化的系统，使他们能够将来自不同有机体的RNaseP引入大肠杆菌。然后，他们将能够在新的细胞环境中跟踪这种引入的RNaseP的进化，提供对复杂代谢的单一成分的进化的直接一瞥。这种方法不仅将阐明RNaseP的作用和灵活性，而且实际上是一种可推广的实验策略，用于研究任何感兴趣的蛋白质或催化RNA的功能。这种方法还扩展了进化分析的能力，为更传统的回溯性方法提供了动态的、基于实验的补充。

Dorit9902351This study uses an experimental approach to explore a fundamental component of all metabolisms, the ribonucleoprotein RNase P. Composed of a catalytically active RNA and a companion protein, RNase P is present in all organisms, albeit in different forms. The investigators' objective is to understand the forces that have shaped the diversity of RNase P. To do so, they have developed a system for in vivo evolution that allows them to introduce an RNase P from a different organism into the E.coli bacterium. They will then be in a position to follow the evolution of this introduced RNase P in its new cellular environment, providing a direct glimpse into the evolution of single component of complex metabolisms. This approach will not only shed light on the action and flexibility of RNase P, but is in effect a generalizable experimental strategy for investigating the function of any protein or catalytic RNA of interest. This approach also extends the power of evolutionary analysis by providing a dynamic, experimentally based complement to more conventional retrospective approaches.