Hierarchical dynamics of individual RNA helix base pair formation and disruption
By: Jason J. Hon
Publisher: [publisher not identified]
Published: 2017
Place of publication: [New York, N.Y.?]
Language: eng
Description: This thesis explores the RNA folding problem using single-molecule field effect transistors (smFETs) to measure the lifetimes of individual RNA base-pairing rearrangements. In the course of this research, considerable computational, chemical, and engineering contributions were developed so that the single-molecule measurements could be conducted and quantified. These advancements have allowed, on the basis of the smFET data collected herein, the quantification of a kinetic model for RNA stem-loop structures which has been generalized to quantitatively explore the phenomenological observation that an RNA found in the bacillus subtilis strain acts as a metabolite-sensing switch, allowing RNA polymerase to transcribe the messenger RNA when the metabolite is present and preventing transcription when the metabolite is absent. Together, the data presented quantify a simple model for the base pairing rearrangements that underlie RNA folding.
Notes: Department: Chemical Physics.

Thesis advisor: Ruben L. Gonzalez.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Columbia University, 2017.