How RNA folds to a native conformation : a study using the Tetrahymena ribozyme

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dc.contributor.advisorRussell, Rick, 1969-
dc.creatorJohnson, Travis Hampton, 1981-
dc.date.accessioned2017-03-21T14:32:25Z
dc.date.available2017-03-21T14:32:25Z
dc.date.issued2007-05
dc.description.abstractThe vast conformational space of functional RNAs begs the question of how they achieve structural specificity, stabilizing a native state relative to all other states. Previously, the lab of Rick Russell demonstrated that the P5abc peripheral element of the Tetrahymena thermophila Group I ribozyme stabilized the ribozyme's native conformation (N) relative to a long-lived misfolded intermediate (M) by ~50,000 fold. Here, we employ site-directed mutagenesis to disrupt tertiary interactions outside of P5abc and find that doing so weakens P5abc binding to a great extent in N and a lesser extent in M, showing that both species fold cooperatively but to different degrees. The difference in the degree of cooperativity between N and M rationalizes the structural specificity conferred to N by P5abc. We suggest that physical differences in M result in an energetic penalty upon complete folding, partially countervailing the energy of cooperative folding.en_US
dc.description.departmentBiochemistryen_US
dc.format.mediumelectronicen_US
dc.identifierdoi:10.15781/T2610VX54
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2152/46135
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.relation.ispartofUT Electronic Theses and Dissertationsen_US
dc.rightsCopyright © is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the Libraries' web site by University Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works.en_US
dc.rights.restrictionRestricteden_US
dc.subjectP5abc RNA foldingen_US
dc.subjectNative conformationen_US
dc.subjectTetrahymena ribozymeen_US
dc.titleHow RNA folds to a native conformation : a study using the Tetrahymena ribozymeen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.genreThesisen_US
thesis.degree.departmentBiochemistryen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineBiochemistryen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Texas at Austinen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Artsen_US

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