A5058597108- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials
- Terahertz technology and applications
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- RNA Research and Splicing
- Origins and Evolution of Life
- Enzyme Structure and Function
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies
- Plant Molecular Biology Research
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
2014-2019
University of Cambridge
2015-2017
Georgia Institute of Technology
2010-2013
Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution
2010
Emory University
2009
Molecular self-assembly is widely appreciated to result from a delicate balance between several noncovalent interactions and solvation effects. However, current design approaches for achieving in water with small, synthetic molecules do not consider all aspects of the hydrophobic effect, particular requirement surface areas greater than 1 nm2 an appreciable free energy hydration. With concept minimum area mind, we designed system that achieves highly cooperative water. Two weakly interacting...
Abstract Protein structural vibrations impact biology by steering the structure to functional intermediate states; enhancing tunneling events; and optimizing energy transfer. Strong water absorption a broad continuous vibrational density of states have prevented optical identification these vibrations. Recently spectroscopic signatures that change with state were measured using anisotropic terahertz microscopy. The technique however has complex sample positioning requirements long...
The unwinding of nucleic acid secondary structures within cells is crucial to maintain genomic integrity and prevent abortive transcription translation initiation. DHX36, also known as RHAU or G4R1, a DEAH-box ATP-dependent helicase highly specific for DNA RNA G-quadruplexes (G4s). A fundamental mechanistic understanding the interaction between helicases their G4 substrates important elucidate biology pave way toward G4-targeted therapies. Here we analyze how thermodynamic stability affects...
The RNA World hypothesis is central to many current theories regarding the origin and early evolution of life. However, formation by plausible prebiotic reactions remains problematic. Formidable challenges include glycosidic bond between ribose canonical nucleobases, as well inability nucleosides mutually select their pairing partners from a complex mixture other molecules prior polymerization. Here we report one-pot model reaction pyrimidine nucleobase (2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine, TAP)...
The RNA world hypothesis proposes that nucleic acids were once responsible for both information storage and chemical catalysis, before the advent of coded protein synthesis. However, it is difficult to imagine how acid polymers first appeared, as abiotic formation long from mononucleotides or short oligonucleotides remains elusive, barriers achieving this goal are substantial. One specific obstacle polymerization strand cyclization. Chemically activated cyclize efficiently, which severely...
Nonenzymatic DNA ligation chemistries containing a reversible step allow thermodynamic control of product formation, but they are not necessarily compatible with polymerase enzymes. We report system that uses commercially available reagents, includes step, and results in linkage can function as template for PCR amplification accurate sequence transfer.
Abstract BACKGROUND: In addition to their roles in eukaryotic defense and development, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have recently been identified as critical for host attachment by the parasitic angiosperms. a process known semagenesis, ROS generated at root tip of Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze (Scrophulariaceae) function together with peroxidases oxidize monolignols surface. As result, para ‐benzoquinone products accumulate both necessary sufficient components inducing development organ,...
DEAH/RHA helicases are members of a large group proteins collectively termed DExH-box, which also include Ski2-like and NS3/NPH-II helicases. By binding remodeling DNA RNA, play critical roles in many cellular processes ranging from transcription splicing to ribosome biogenesis, innate immunity stress granule formation. While numerous crystal structures other DExH-box have been reported, no bound nucleic acid substrates available until the recent co-crystal maleless (MLE) Prp43p RNA. This...