AEI 18 |
| Hydroxyl radical cleavage has been widely used as an important tool in understanding the structure of DNA and RNA. My current research focuses on understanding the mechanism of RNA strand cleavage by the hydroxyl radical. Recent work in our lab has been focused on deuterium kinetic isotope effect experiments on hydroxyl radical cleavage of the 27-nucleotide Sarcin Ricin Loop (SRL) domain of ribosomal RNA from E. coli, a structurally well-defined model RNA system. Our approach is to replace hydrogen atoms on the ribose sugar with deuterium atoms and carry out kinetic isotope experiments to elucidate which hydrogen atoms are involved in the mechanism of RNA cleavage by the hydroxyl radical. My published research at the graduate level has centered on the use of small molecule intercalation to assemble nucleic acid structures that are otherwise unstable. We have shown that coralyne, a small molecule that binds nucleic acids, repartitions duplex DNA into triplex structures and can be used as a potential anticancer agent. Our work with proflavine, a duplex intercalator, has shown that small molecules may have played a vital role in the origin of nucleic acid structures in the absence of protein enzymes. Future independent work will focus on understanding nucleic acid structure modulation via novel molecules capable of intercalation and groove binding. Chemical probes will be utilized to further understand structural characteristics of DNA and RNA in the presence of small molecule interactions. My teaching interests include Biochemistry, Biological Macromolecular Structure, Organic and General Chemistry. |
|
Academic Employment Initiative
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, August 20, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Sci-Mix
Academic Employment Initiative |