The current computational tools cannot keep up the pace with steadily emerging RNA sequences and new functions such as riboswitch-mediated regulation of gene expression in bacteria, RNA-guided genome engineer- ing (CRISPR), and RNA-based drug design and delivery. One of the unsolved key issues is the prediction and understanding of the role of metal ions in RNA structure formation. The problem is critically important for RNA functions because RNAs are highly charged; thus, without the participation of the metal ions in the solution, RNAs simply won't fold. Furthermore, there is increasing support for the idea that metal ions in the cellular environment can play a signi?cant role in the regulation of gene expression by causing RNA structure changes. The biological importance of ion effects underscores the urgent request for computational tools for accurate prediction of the ion effects. The objective of this project is to develop successful computational tools, including models, software pack- ages, and web servers to predict and understand the role of metal ions in RNA structures and functions. By including the correlation and ?uctuation effects for metal ions, considerable progress has been made for the ion effects in small and simple RNA structures. However, accurate prediction for the ion (especially Mg2+) effects has not been possible for large, biologically important RNAs. We now propose to develop computational tools that can provide such accurate predictions. Our goals are (a) to develop and validate a novel sampling algorithm that enables predictions of the ion effects for large RNA structures, (b) to develop and validate a new model for predicting metal ion binding sites in RNA, (c) through collaboration with RNA structural biology laboratory to develop an ion effect model for ?exible RNA structures, and (d) to convert the computational models into user friendly, freely accessible, open-source software package and web servers. The proposed new algorithms will be directly applied to important problems related to human diseases such as the structure and stability of Hepatitis C virus genome RNA. Furthermore, the ability to predict the metal ion effects will allow us not only to understand the formation of RNA functional structures but also to design therapeutic strategies by weakening or strengthening ion binding and consequently changing the structures and stabilities of human disease-related RNAs.

Public Health Relevance

RNAs play critical roles in cellular functions. Since RNAs are highly charged, their structures and functions are often sensitive to the presence of metal ions in the solution. In this project, we develop a set of computational tools to predict ion effects for RNAs. The results can significantly impact our ability to quantitatively understand and predict RNA cellular functions and to accurately design RNA-based therapeutic strategies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM117059-02
Application #
9420620
Study Section
Biodata Management and Analysis Study Section (BDMA)
Program Officer
Ravichandran, Veerasamy
Project Start
2017-02-01
Project End
2021-01-31
Budget Start
2018-02-01
Budget End
2019-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Missouri-Columbia
Department
Physics
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
153890272
City
Columbia
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
65211
Zhang, Dong; Chen, Shi-Jie (2018) IsRNA: An Iterative Simulated Reference State Approach to Modeling Correlated Interactions in RNA Folding. J Chem Theory Comput 14:2230-2239
Sun, Ting-Ting; Zhao, Chenhan; Chen, Shi-Jie (2018) Predicting Cotranscriptional Folding Kinetics For Riboswitch. J Phys Chem B 122:7484-7496
Hakim, Chady H; Wasala, Nalinda B; Nelson, Christopher E et al. (2018) AAV CRISPR editing rescues cardiac and muscle function for 18 months in dystrophic mice. JCI Insight 3:
Hurst, Travis; Xu, Xiaojun; Zhao, Peinan et al. (2018) Quantitative Understanding of SHAPE Mechanism from RNA Structure and Dynamics Analysis. J Phys Chem B 122:4771-4783
Sun, Li-Zhen; Chen, Shi-Jie (2017) A New Method to Predict Ion Effects in RNA Folding. Methods Mol Biol 1632:1-17
Zhao, Chenhan; Xu, Xiaojun; Chen, Shi-Jie (2017) Predicting RNA Structure with Vfold. Methods Mol Biol 1654:3-15
Sun, Li-Zhen; Zhang, Dong; Chen, Shi-Jie (2017) Theory and Modeling of RNA Structure and Interactions with Metal Ions and Small Molecules. Annu Rev Biophys 46:227-246
Sun, Li-Zhen; Heng, Xiao; Chen, Shi-Jie (2017) Theory Meets Experiment: Metal Ion Effects in HCV Genomic RNA Kissing Complex Formation. Front Mol Biosci 4:92
Kranawetter, Clayton; Brady, Samantha; Sun, Lizhen et al. (2017) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study of RNA Structures at the 3'-End of the Hepatitis C Virus Genome. Biochemistry 56:4972-4984
Sun, Li-Zhen; Zhang, Jing-Xiang; Chen, Shi-Jie (2017) MCTBI: a web server for predicting metal ion effects in RNA structures. RNA 23:1155-1165

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