Identification and application of functional RNAs

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dc.contributor.advisorEllington, Andrew D.en
dc.creatorHesselberth, Jay Richarden
dc.date.accessioned2008-08-28T21:29:24Zen
dc.date.available2008-08-28T21:29:24Zen
dc.date.issued2003en
dc.descriptiontexten
dc.description.abstractRNA assumes many roles in nature. As a structural entity, it is responsible for proxying genetic information, ferrying amino acids and organizing ribosome architecture. RNA also participates in several genetic regulatory mechanisms. Catalytic RNAs are responsible for the faithful modification of unprocessed transfer, ribosomal and messeger RNAs, and the assembly of proteins from amino acid monomers may be performed by RNA-derived catalytic residues in the ribosome. Previously researchers have developed methods for the isolation of unnatural RNA ligands and enzymes from random sequence pools. We have used these techniques in order to develop novel biosensors and biosensor components. RNA ligands (aptamers) were isolated from a random sequence pool that bind and inhibit ricin A-chain, a ribosome-inactivating protein and proposed biological warfare agent. In addition, ribozymes that were previously engineered to respond to a set of ligands were incorporated into a sensor platform for the first demonstration of an RNA-based detection system for the simultaneous detection of diverse analyte classes including DNA, proteins, peptides and small-molecules. We have also developed a set of computational tools in order to identify functional RNAs from both random sequence pools and genomic sequence databases. A computationally-accessible model was conceived in order to describe and predict the structural rearrangements undergone by allosteric ribozymes upon ligand binding, and the model was in turn used to select novel allosteric ribozymes from random sequence pools. In addition, we have used a structure-based search strategy in order to characterize well-folded regions in mRNAs with the goal of discovering additional examples of a novel class of genetic regulatory element, the riboswitches.
dc.description.departmentChemistry and Biochemistryen
dc.description.departmentBiochemistryen
dc.format.mediumelectronicen
dc.identifierb56832333en
dc.identifier.oclc56123261en
dc.identifier.proqst3116325en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2152/643en
dc.language.isoengen
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the Libraries' web site by University Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works.en
dc.subject.lcshRNAen
dc.subject.lcshRNA--Structureen
dc.titleIdentification and application of functional RNAsen
dc.type.genreThesisen

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