Poster abstracts

Poster number 17 submitted by John Means

Fluorescence and NMR Structural Studies of the Bacillus subtilis T Box Antiterminator/tRNA Model Complex

John A. Means (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Clippinger Laboratories, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701), Crystal M. Simson (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Clippinger Laboratories, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701), Jennifer V. Hines (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Clippinger Laboratories, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701)

Abstract:
A unique RNA/RNA interaction occurs between uncharged tRNA and the mRNA 5' leader region of many Gram-positive bacterial tRNA synthetase, amino acid biosynthesis, and amino acid transport genes (1). This interaction leads to antitermination of transcription and complete transcription of the gene. Without this interaction (i.e. in the presence of only charged tRNA) transcription termination occurs (2). The current investigations revolve around the structural features involved in the recognition of the tRNA acceptor stem by the antiterminator, containing a unique seven-nucleotide bulge, in the leader region (3,4). Fluorescence techniques using 2-aminopurine as well as NMR spectroscopy have been used to probe structural changes in the antiterminator upon binding with a microhelix tRNA model.

References:
1. Grundy, F.J.; Moir, T.R.; Haldeman, M.T.; Henkin, T.M. (2002) Nucleic Acids Res. 30, 1646-1655.
2. Grundy, F.J.; Collins, J.A.; Rollins, S.M.; and Henkin, T.M. (2000) RNA 6, 1131-1141.
3. Gerdeman, M.S.; Henkin, T.M.; Hines, J.V. (2002) Nucleic Acids Res. 30, 1065-1072.
4. Gerdeman, M.S.; Henkin, T.M.; Hines, J.V. (2003) J. Mol. Biol. 326, 189-201.

Keywords: mRNAtRNA interaction, fluorescence, NMR