Poster abstracts

Poster number 32 submitted by Abigael Muchenditsi

The effect of pH on T box antiterminator structure and affinity for microhelix model tRNA

Abigael Muchenditsi (Chemistry and Biochemistry), Dr Jennifer Hines (Chemistry and Biochemistry)

Abstract:
A novel RNA-RNA interaction found in many gram-positive bacteria is an essential mechanism for the control of a unique class of genes called T box genes. This interaction leads to the formation and stabilization of an antiterminator structural element. Specifically, the 5’ untranslated leader region of the nascent mRNA transcript binds uncharged cognate tRNA. A 29-nucleotide antiterminator model has been designed with two flanking helices separated by a seven-nucleotide bulge. In order to study and understand this antiterminator-tRNA interaction in detail, the Circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence and fluorescence anisotropy techniques were employed to monitor what effects the pH has on antiterminator structure and binding of tRNA models to the antiterminator model RNA. Results and their implications regarding the structure-function of the antiterminator will be presented.

Keywords: antiterminator, Anisotropy, RNA-RNA interaction