When
Presenter:
Dr. Christine S. Chow
Professor, Department of Chemistry,
Wayne State University
Abstract:
RNA modifications are known for their importance in mediating cellular activities and are often located in functionally important regions. There are over 150 naturally occurring nucleobase modifications with each one (type and location) having distinct impacts on RNA function. Despite their high abundance, many properties and roles of RNA modifications are still poorly understood. Our laboratory employs a variety of experimental methods to increase our understanding of modified nucleotides in the ribosome and interactions of key functional regions with small molecules. One functionally important RNA hairpin, helix 69, located on the large ribosomal subunit, has three pseudouridine modifications that promote base flipping required for association with the small subunit. By examining small molecules and peptides that target helix 69 in different conformational states, we can gain a better understanding of the binding preferences of these antimicrobial compounds. We are also examining other functional regions of the ribosome such as the peptidyltransferase center and exit tunnel that interact with proline-rich antimicrobial peptides (PrAMPs). Overall, applying both chemical and biological tools leads to increased knowledge of the rRNA structural changes and binding sites of various ligands.
Bio:
Dr. Christine S. Chow is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. She carried out her PhD research in the area of inorganic chemistry with Professor Jackie Barton at the California Institute of Technology. These studies sparked her initial interest in RNA modifications, a theme that continues in her lab. “I was working on developing inorganic complexes that target specific tertiary structures of RNA,” she explained, “and when we moved on to look at mutant tRNAs that lacked modified nucleotides, we noticed that they had altered structures. This eventually led to my interest in the roles of modifications in larger RNAs such as the ribosome.”
Hosted by: Dr. John Jewett