17th Annual Student Research Conference
Science
“The Role of Pseudouridine at the Spliceosomal Branch Site: A Molecular Dynamics Analysis”
Stephanie M. Tiemann
Dr. Maria Nagan, Faculty Mentor
The spliceosome, which contains small nuclear RNA (snRNA) and small nuclear ribonucleoprotiens (snRNPs), excises the non-coding regions (introns) and splices together the coding regions (exons) on pre-mRNA molecules. In absence of snRNPs, the splicing reaction still can occur, albeit at a slower reaction rate, and is therefore known as a ribozyme. In the splicing reaction, the branch site adenosine (A24) has a 2'-OH that acts as a nucleophile and attacks at the 5'-intron site. Biochemical studies have shown that a nonstandard highly conserved base, pseudouridine, is required for splicing activity. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structures show that this pseudouridine induces a structural change in the exon:intron helix that places A24 in an extrahelical position . Molecular dynmamics (MD) simulations of the helix containing the pseudouridine have been acquired. Equilibration of the MD simulations is assessed.
Keywords: RNA, Computational , Pseudouridine, small nuclear RNA, branch site, exons and introns, spliceosome
Topic(s):Chemistry
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 23-5
Location: VH 1432
Time: 11:00