RNA helicase regulation of RNA metabolism and gene expression

所有生物都必须能够感知环境的变化并作出反应。最常见的两种压力是光和温度的变化，这两种因素对光合生物的生存至关重要。为了应对这些压力，细胞必须改变蛋白质的丰度才能生存。蛋白质是由RNA产生的，这个过程需要RNA被折叠成正确的三维结构。RNA结合蛋白，称为RNA解旋酶，在所有生物体中促进RNA折叠。我们研究的目的是确定生长环境的变化如何调节RNA解旋酶的积累以及解旋酶如何与RNA相互作用。为了实现这一目标，我们正在使用光合模式系统，蓝藻，一种潜在的生物燃料和医学活性化合物的重要来源。蓝藻含有单个RNA解旋酶，其丰度在20时升高

All organisms must be able to sense and respond to changes in their environment. Two of the most commonly experienced stresses are changes in light and temperature, factors that are crucial for the survival of photosynthetic organisms. In response to these stresses, cells must alter protein abundance in order to survive. Proteins are produced from RNA in a process that requires the RNA to be folded into the correct 3-D structure. RNA binding proteins, termed RNA helicases, facilitate RNA folding in all organisms. The purpose of our research is to determine how changes in the growth environment regulate RNA helicase accumulation and how helicases interact with RNA. To accomplish this, we are using the photosynthetic model system, cyanobacteria, a potentially important source of biofuels and medically active compounds. Cyanobacteria contain a single RNA helicase whose abundance is elevated at 20