Award details

The hammerhead ribozyme: RNA folding and catalytic activity

ReferenceSBD07464
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Professor David Lilley
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution University of Dundee
DepartmentCollege of Life Sciences
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 136,364
StatusCompleted
TypeResearch Grant
Start date 01/03/1997
End date 01/03/2001
Duration48 months

Abstract

RNA catalysis is of both fundamental and practical importance. The hammerhead ribozyme undergoes a self-cleavage reaction at a defined site within a conserved core sequence, in the presence of certain divalent metal ions, giving potential as an antiviral therapeutic agent. We have shown that the hammerhead undergoes a well- defined folding process in response to the addition of ions. It is the purpose of the present investigation to extend our understanding of this folding process in the light of two crystal structures, and the relationship to the generation of catalytic activity. The hammerhead provides a well-defined system for the study of RNA folding, which is central to most biological processes that involve RNA species.

Summary

unavailable
Committee Closed Committee - Biomolecular Sciences (BMS)
Research TopicsX – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative Structural biology and design applications (SBD) [1996]
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)
export PDF file