In the past year, we have made further progress in elucidating the mechanism DHX36, a member of the DEAH family of helicases that has a unique substrate specificity for G-quadruplex nucleic acids, and whose loss results in fatal disruption of hematopoiesis. In collaboration with Professor Myong (Johns Hopkins University) we have demonstrated that this enzyme interacts differently with DNA and RNA G-quadruplexes, and that the interactions of the core of the helicase are responsible for the mechanistic divergence. We have also participated in the development of cutting-edge methods for biophysical analysis of RNA. In collaboration with Professor Markelz (The University at Buffalo) we have shown the feasibility of employing terahertz spectroscopy on crystalline RNA samples directly to measure dynamical properties of the hydrated nucleic acid. In collaboration with Professor Woodson (Johns Hopkins University) we have extended the single-molecule vectorial folding assay to the real-time analysis of folding of regulatory RNAs. In collaboration with Dr. Yun-Xing Wang (NCI), we have employed the ultrabright, pulsed radiation from the X-ray free-electron laser to determine the structure of a bacterial alarmone-sensing RNA.

Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Department
Type
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Chen, Michael C; Tippana, Ramreddy; Demeshkina, Natalia A et al. (2018) Structural basis of G-quadruplex unfolding by the DEAH/RHA helicase DHX36. Nature 558:465-469
Lau, Matthew W L; Trachman 3rd, Robert J; Ferré-D'Amaré, Adrian R (2017) A divalent cation-dependent variant of the glmS ribozyme with stringent Ca(2+) selectivity co-opts a preexisting nonspecific metal ion-binding site. RNA 23:355-364
Miao, Zhichao; Adamiak, Ryszard W; Antczak, Maciej et al. (2017) RNA-Puzzles Round III: 3D RNA structure prediction of five riboswitches and one ribozyme. RNA 23:655-672
Zhang, Jinwei; Ferré-DAmaré, Adrian R (2016) Trying on tRNA for Size: RNase P and the T-box Riboswitch as Molecular Rulers. Biomolecules 6:
Zhang, Jinwei; Ferré-D'Amaré, Adrian R (2016) The tRNA Elbow in Structure, Recognition and Evolution. Life (Basel) 6:
Lau, Matthew W L; Ferré-D'Amaré, Adrian R (2016) In vitro evolution of coenzyme-independent variants from the glmS ribozyme structural scaffold. Methods 106:76-81
Meyer, Peter A; Socias, Stephanie; Key, Jason et al. (2016) Data publication with the structural biology data grid supports live analysis. Nat Commun 7:10882
Miao, Zhichao; Adamiak, Ryszard W; Blanchet, Marc-Frédérick et al. (2015) RNA-Puzzles Round II: assessment of RNA structure prediction programs applied to three large RNA structures. RNA 21:1066-84
Zhang, Jinwei; Ferré-D'Amaré, Adrian R (2015) Structure and mechanism of the T-box riboswitches. Wiley Interdiscip Rev RNA 6:419-33
Ferré-D'Amaré, Adrian R (2015) On the shoulders of giants. RNA 21:504-5

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