Mechanistic studies of proton transfer in ribozyme self-cleavage

有了这个奖项，生命过程的化学计划正在支持宾夕法尼亚州立大学的贝维拉夸教授的研究，以检查质子转移在一个小的，非金属核糖酶。 目前尚不清楚该反应的初始步骤--2 '羟基攻击相邻磷酸盐--是如何催化的。 两个限制模型的阴离子鸟嘌呤和溶剂居民的物种的参与将被检查。 本研究的目标是确定反应中的一般（或特定）碱，确定其pKa，检查pKa移动的驱动力，并建立碱对化学步骤中质子转移的贡献。 将对模型系统进行补充实验，以确定pKa变化的驱动力。 首先，几个本科生将参与研究。 他们将测量核苷酸和寡核苷酸中pKa变化的驱动力，并接受广泛的培训。 第二，PI将帮助开发一个全系的本科论文研究计划。 进行原创性研究的本科生将撰写和口头捍卫一个研究课题。 这个过程将涉及几个学期的研究和一个夏天。 最后，该研究项目的结果将通过出版物和向公众提供的节目/播客广泛传播。

With this award, the Chemistry of Life Processes program is supporting the research of Professor Bevilacqua of Pennsylvania State University to examine proton transfer in a small, non-metalloribozyme. It is presently unclear how the initial step in this reaction--attack of a 2'hydroxyl on an adjacent phosphate--is catalyzed. Two limiting models of participation of an anionic guanine and of a solvent-resident species will be examined. Goals of this research are to identify the general (or specific) base in the reaction, determine its pKa, examine the driving forces for pKa shifting, and establish the base's contributions to proton transfer in the chemical step. Complementary experiments on model systems will be conducted in an effort to identify driving forces for pKa shifting.The Broader Impacts of this project are three-fold. First, several undergraduates will participate in the research. They will measure driving forces for pKa shifting in nucleotides and oligonucleotides and be broadly trained. Second, the PI will help develop a departmental-wide program in undergraduate thesis research. Undergraduates conducting original research will write and orally defend a research topic. This process will involve several semesters of research and one summer. Last, the results of this research project will be broadly disseminated through both publication and programs/podcasts available to the public.