Our initial work on establishing the conditions required for cleavage led us to propose a novel secondary structure for the RNA sequence required for self-cleavage. This secondary structure correctly describes most, but not all, of the essential Watson-Crick interactions of the ribozyme. A definitive description of a high resolution structure is required and will be significant because the HDV ribozyme is the only self-cleaving RNA which is thought to have evolved to function in mammalian cells and therefore may offer insight into the structure and function of ribozymes in human cells. In addition it has structural and catalytic properties that distinguish it from other small ribozymes currently under investigation. Currently structural studies are focusing on obtaining a more complete description of the tertiary structure of precursor and product forms of the ribozyme and to establish constraints and pathways for the 3-dimensional folding process.
Students participate in all aspects of the projects.
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