COOP COLLAPSE OF GROUP IIC INTRON ALONG FOLDING PATHWAY BY METAL IONS&OSMOLYTES

这个子项目是许多利用资源的研究子项目之一 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目的主要支持 而子项目的主要调查员可能是由其他来源提供的， 包括其它NIH来源。 列出的子项目总成本可能 代表子项目使用的中心基础设施的估计数量， 而不是由NCRR赠款提供给子项目或子项目工作人员的直接资金。 RNA是一种重要的生物学相关分子，参与许多关键的细胞和调节功能。我们对O.伊黑西斯  a ~400 nt RNA。目前，人们对这种RNA分子的具体特征以及帮助它穿越折叠景观并正确达到其功能性天然状态的结构特征知之甚少。通过观察伴随生物相关和重要的一价和二价离子以及渗透剂浓度变化的全局结构转变（Rg和Dmax）导致的压实，我们希望更好地了解这种RNA的结构。此外，SAXS数据可以很容易地与来自生物化学实验的信息相结合，以产生关于RNA内金属结合和定位的位点的核苷酸特异性信息，这将阐明哪些局部结构转变与全局转变同时发生。这项研究的具体目的是建立一个更好的理解折叠和RNA架构的一般过程，因为它们涉及到RNA的基本结构特征。 我有一个背景，利用核磁共振光谱和残余偶极耦合实验，研究RNA连接和图案的结构和动力学。去年我参加了几个简短的SAXS课程（由BNL的NSLS提供的为期2天的课程，以及由DESY的EMBL-Hamburg提供的为期8天的课程），我目前正在研究通过SAXS测量和各种生化足迹数据分析RNA分子的结构和动力学的新方法。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. Primary support for the subproject and the subproject's principal investigator may have been provided by other sources, including other NIH sources. The Total Cost listed for the subproject likely represents the estimated amount of Center infrastructure utilized by the subproject, not direct funding provided by the NCRR grant to the subproject or subproject staff. RNA is an important and biological relevant molecule, which is involved in a number of critical cellular and regulatory functions. We are interested in studying the folding pathway and structural intermediate(s) of a group IIC intron from O. iheyensis  a ~400 nt RNA. At the moment little is known about the specific features of this RNA molecule, and the structural characteristics that help it to traverse its folding landscape and correctly attain its functional native state. By observing the compaction that results from global structural transitions (Rg and Dmax) that accompany changes in the concentrations of biologically relevant and important mono- and divalent ions, and osmolytes we hope to better understand the architecture of this RNA. Moreover, SAXS data can be readily combined with information from biochemical experiments to yield nucleotide specific information on the sites of metal binding and localization within the RNA, which will illuminate what local structural transitions occur concurrently with global transformations. The specific aims of this research is to establish a better understanding of the general processes of folding and RNA architecture as they relate to basic structural features of RNA. I have a background in utilizing NMR spectroscopy and residual dipolar coupling experiments to study the structure and dynamics of RNA junctions and motifs. I have attended a couple of short SAXS courses in the last year (2-day course by NSLS at BNL, and an 8-day course by EMBL-Hamburg at DESY), and I am currently working on new methods to study the structure and dynamics from analyses of RNA molecules through SAXS measurements and various biochemical footprinting data.