Over the last 40 years the number of biochemical functionalities attributed to nucleic acids\ has increased tremendously. This diverse array of chemical functionality is intimately coupled to\ the spatial arrangement of atoms associated with these molecules. The three-dimensional\ structures and functions of nucleic acids are known to be dependent on the concentration and\ identity of solutes in solution. These nucleic acid cosolutes can be as simple and universal as\ atomic metal cations that favorably interact with the negatively charged phosphate backbone of\ nucleic acids and resulting in stabilization of electronegatively dense conformations.\ Alternatively, they may be complex organic molecules that are able to promote conformational\ transitions in certain RNA sequences responsible for regulating gene expression. Understanding\ the biophysical principles responsible for these cosolutes-influenced conformational transitions\ represents the primary objective of this work.
CY - Boulder, CO DA - 2014 N2 -Over the last 40 years the number of biochemical functionalities attributed to nucleic acids\ has increased tremendously. This diverse array of chemical functionality is intimately coupled to\ the spatial arrangement of atoms associated with these molecules. The three-dimensional\ structures and functions of nucleic acids are known to be dependent on the concentration and\ identity of solutes in solution. These nucleic acid cosolutes can be as simple and universal as\ atomic metal cations that favorably interact with the negatively charged phosphate backbone of\ nucleic acids and resulting in stabilization of electronegatively dense conformations.\ Alternatively, they may be complex organic molecules that are able to promote conformational\ transitions in certain RNA sequences responsible for regulating gene expression. Understanding\ the biophysical principles responsible for these cosolutes-influenced conformational transitions\ represents the primary objective of this work.
PB - University of Colorado Boulder PP - Boulder, CO PY - 2014 EP - 285 TI - Single-Molecule Kinetic and Thermodynamic Studies of Cosolute-Influenced Nucleic Acid Conformational Transitions VL - Ph.D. ER -