Prof. Donald Burke, University of Missouri

Artificial genetics and metabolisms catalyzed by RNA

Biochemistry Division Seminar Series
RiboEvo Special Seminar

RNA catalysis offers an attractive tool for synthetic biologies and is at the heart of most speculations on the nature of ancient life. The last two decades have begun to put foundations under these speculations, replacing fantasy with experimental constraints. It is now recognized thatâ€"if provided with suitably activated mononucleotidesâ€"ribozymes can catalyze all of the subsequent reactions required for the transmission of genetic information. They can bind primer-template substrate for polymerization and extend the substrate more than one complete helical turn. They can use the energy of an NTP to activate an organic acid or amino acid. They can then use the activated compound in acyl transfers to generate thioesters, ribose esters, amides and peptide bonds. Because energy capture is critical to substrate activation and subsequent reactivity, this talk will emphasize our recent studies of phosphoryl transfer ribozymes. Some of the current research frontiers in this area include building more complex ribozyme networks that control metabolite flux, productively incorporating rational design into ribozyme selection strategies, blending in vitro selections with engineered and synthetic biologies, and defining the role(s) of separable substrate-binding and catalytic modules in ribozyme evolution.

For more information contact Prof. Loren Williams (404-894-9752).