A functional approach to refine and extend models derived from structural and functional work on the full version of the Hammerhead ribozyme

Student: Thomas Struble

Recent computational and structural work on the full version of the hammerhead ribozyme put forward novel models for the catalytic mechanism of this RNA enzyme [1]. We are using single-atom chemical modifications to rationally alter the properties of the hammerhead ribozyme and test such models. Results from this work will provide a powerful benchmark for the predictive ability of computation, will help to reconcile results obtained from structural work and those obtained by experiments, and will provide the basis for further structural, computational, and functional investigation of this and other RNA systems.

[1] Martick, M., Lee, T.-S., York, D. M. & Scott, W. G. Solvent structure and hammerhead ribozyme catalysis. Chem. Biol. 15, 332-342 (2008).

Models for the hammerhead ribozyme  reaction mechanism (adapted from ref. 1).