24th Annual Student Research Conference
RNA Binding by Lambda Bacteriophage N Protein in Antitermination
Henry Dust*, Emily Schepers, and Anshumaan Srinivasan
Dr. Maria Nagan, Faculty Mentor
Lambda bacteriophage is a virus infecting Escherichia coli cells that overtakes the native transcription process in order to overexpress viral proteins. The bacteriophage controls gene expression by a process known as antitermination, which requires viral N protein binding to the viral mRNA box B hairpin loop. Computational studies of N protein recognition of box B were undertaken to learn more about the mechanism of binding. Specifically, the nature of the essential arginine-nucleic acid interactions are examined. Computational models have been built and were prepared for a simulation method known as replica exchange molecular dynamics, which is better able to sample phase space.
Keywords: antitermination, computational, bacteriophage, E. coli, Biochemistry, Transcription, replica exchange
Topic(s):Chemistry
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 7-1
Location: Georgian Room - SUB
Time: 4:30