Dresden 2017 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 58: DNA & RNA
BP 58.4: Talk
Friday, March 24, 2017, 10:15–10:30, ZEU 250
A macromolecular crowding study of RNA folding and activity: polymer pore size matters! — •Richard Börner1, Erica Fiorini1, Michael Kovermann2, and Roland K.O. Sigel1 — 1Department of Chemistry, University Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland — 2Department of Chemistry, University Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
Ribozymes are catalytic RNAs requiring a high magnesium(II) concentration to show folding and function in vitro (1,2). In contrast, in vivo conditions are characterized by a highly crowded cellular environment and much lower ion concentration. Molecular crowding agents are used to mimic the cellular crowding. However, particular physical/chemical properties explaining the crowders influence are poorly understood. In this study, we gain new insights on how polymer properties like viscosity, pore size etc. influence the activity and folding of a group II intron RNA (3,4). We combined bulk activity assays, smFRET experiments and NMR screening PEG volume fraction (%) and molecular weight (MW) and unveiled an optimal pore size in terms of the catalytic activity.
(1) Börner R, Kowerko D, Guisett-Miserach H, Schaffer MF, Sigel RKO. (2016) Coord .Chem. Rev. 327-328:123-142. (2) Steiner M, Karunatilaka KS, Sigel RKO, Rueda D. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (2008) 105:13853. (3) Fiorini E, Börner R, Sigel RKO. (2015) Chimia. 69(4):207. (4) Fiorini E, Paudel B, Börner R, Rueda D, Sigel RKO. (2016) submitted.