Dow Corning Assistant Professosr Nils G. Walter
Department of Chemistry
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI

Monday, February 9, 2004
3:00 pm (CT)
3269 Beckman Institute

Abstract

RNA is a unique biopolymer in that it can carry both genetic information and catalytic function. Its secondary structure elements fold stably and independently, and assemble hierarchically into a modular tertiary (native) structure. Studies of these structural dynamics are key to understanding how RNA can fulfill its multitude of essential cellular tasks in the regulation and processing of genetic information. We are using a complementary array of single-molecule and ensemble fluorescence spectroscopy tools to highlight how structural dynamics determines function in a number of RNA enzymes, including the hairpin, hepatitis delta virus (HDV), and hammerhead ribozymes.

Tea and coffee will be served in R3151 Beckman Institute at 2:15pm.