Exploring RNA conformational transitions using high pressure

利用高压探索 RNA 构象转变

• 批准号: 1610691
• 负责人: Catherine Royer
• 金额: $ 35.2万
• 依托单位: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-09-01 至 2020-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1610691&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Exploring; RNA; conformational; transitions; using

With this award from the Chemistry of Life Processes Program in the Chemistry Division Dr. Catherine Royer from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is characterizing RNA. RNA is thought to be the original central molecule of early life forms. Understanding what controls the structure and dynamics, and thus function, of RNA molecules is key to piecing together how life began and evolved on earth. Pressure changes are used to induce changes in RNA structure, opening an entirely new avenue of biochemical research. Pressure is particularly appropriate because life is thought to have evolved in the oceans, and thus under pressure. The research involves promotion of scientific fields to high school students via participation in the high school student mentoring program at RPI's Center for Biotechnology. Graduate and undergraduate students are being trained in state-of-the-art biophysical chemistry. Women and underrepresented minorities are being promoted in STEM research, through the undergraduate Summer Research Program in biochemistry and biophysics at RPI. This program hosts undergraduates from primarily minority-serving colleges. International internship opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students are being provided through strong international network of collaborators in France, Germany and Japan.The global objective of the research is to structurally and energetically characterize tertiary conformational transitions of structured RNA molecules using high hydrostatic pressure. Pressure effects on biopolymer conformational equilibria are due to differences in molar volume between states, which for RNA, arise from differences in voids and hydration effects. Pressure perturbation of RNA allows quantitative assessment of the changes in hydration and ion condensation implicated in RNA structural dynamics. Two well-characterized model RNA systems are investigated; tRNALys3 and the Azoarcus group I ribozyme, using a combination of NMR, fluorescence, FTIR and SAXS. Research is aimed specifically at determining the structural and dynamic effects of pressure on these model RNA molecules, the quantitative contributions of hydration and ion interactions to the structural transitions and the role of conserved nucleotides in controlling RNA conformational transitions.

借助伦斯勒理工学院（RPI）的化学过程化学过程奖项凯瑟琳·罗耶（Catherine Royer）博士的奖项是RNA的特征。 RNA被认为是早期生命形式的原始中央分子。了解什么控制RNA分子的结构和动力学，因此功能，这是将生命如何在地球上开始和进化的关键。压力变化用于诱导RNA结构的变化，开辟了全新的生化研究途径。压力特别适合，因为人们认为生命已经在海洋中进化，因此在压力下进化。该研究涉及通过参加RPI生物技术中心的高中学生指导计划向高中生促进科学领域。研究生和本科生正在接受最先进的生物物理化学培训。 RPI的生物化学和生物物理学的本科夏季研究计划在STEM研究中促进了妇女和代表性不足的少数群体。该计划主持了主要由少数派服务学院的大学生。 通过在法国，德国和日本的强大国际合作者网络为研究生和本科生提供了国际实习机会。该研究的全球目标是使用高静水压力在结构和能量上表征结构化RNA分子的三级构象过渡。对生物聚合物构象平衡的压力影响是由于状态之间摩尔体积的差异所致，该状态的摩尔体积差异是由空隙和水合效应的差异引起的。 RNA的压力扰动可以定量评估与RNA结构动力学有关的水合变化和离子冷凝的变化。研究了两个良好的模型RNA系统。 TRNALYS3和AZOARCUS I核酶，结合NMR，荧光，FTIR和SAXS。研究旨在确定压力对这些模型RNA分子的结构和动态影响，水合和离子相互作用对结构过渡的定量贡献以及保守核苷酸在控制RNA构象转变中的作用。