CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ROLE OF METAL IONS IN RNA FOLDING AND ACTIVATION

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中的一个 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来源获得了主要资金， 因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为 研究中心，而研究中心不一定是研究者所在的机构。 二价阳离子在RNA的折叠和激活中起着关键作用。与DNA不同，RNA的典型结构被很好地定义，RNA被发现采用广泛的结构。在许多情况下，二价阳离子（Mg 2+、Mn 2+和Zn 2+）是RNA采用生物活性结构所必需的。最近的核磁共振研究提供了直接的证据，一个独特的结合位点的金属的RNA，并建议，金属形成一个内球复合物的RNA。EXAFS将用于测试这一提议，并更好地定义RNA-金属相互作用的性质。为了特异性地定义RNA-金属结合位点，硫代修饰的RNA将用于标记可能的骨架磷酸盐。

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. Divalent cations play a critical role in the folding and activation of RNA. Unlike DNA, where the canonical structure is well defined, RNAs are found to adopt a wide range of structures. In many cases, divalent cations (Mg2+, Mn2+, and Zn2+) are required for the RNA to adopt a biologically active structure. Recent NMR studies have provided direct evidence for a unique binding site of the metal to the RNA and have suggested that the metal forms an inner-sphere complex with the RNA. EXAFS will be used to test this proposal and to better define the nature of the RNA-metal interaction. In order to define specifically the RNA-metal binding site, thio-modified RNA will be used to label possible backbone phosphates.