Poster abstracts
Poster number 56 submitted by Maddie Goodman
Characterization and quantification of nucleic acid methylation catalyzed by the MTR1 ribozyme
Maddie Goodman (Denison University, Department of Chemistry/Biochemistry ), Rachel Mitton-Fry (Denison University, Department of Chemistry/Biochemistry )
Abstract:
Nucleic acid modification, including methylation, occurs frequently in biological systems as a means of genetic regulation. Ribozymes, or catalytic RNAs, typically engage in processes like RNA splicing and protein translation. Methyltransferase Ribozyme 1 (MTR1) was recently selected to catalyze the transfer of a methyl group from the small cofactor O6-methylguanine to a specific adenine on a target RNA strand. Previous studies have shown that MTR1 can methylate a variety of RNA substrates and use different cofactors. The aim of this research project was to further study MTR1, including in reactions with a DNA substrate and with fluorescent cofactors such as ATTO488-BG. The transfer of this fluorophore is helpful for quantifying reaction progress. Methylation was successful on a DNA substrate, which was observed to react faster than the RNA substrate. This finding was further supported quantitatively by the reactions where the fluorescent cofactor was used. Continuing to gain insights into the capabilities of MTR1 is valuable as it will allow for an understanding of its variability in terms of the substrates and cofactors it will interact with.
Keywords: ribozyme , methyltransferase