The VS Ribozyme catalyzes the same self-cleavage reaction as the hammerhead, hairpin and hepatitis delta virus ribozymes, however differs in sequence and secondary structure from these and all known ribozymes. This suggest that the RNA structure involved in the cleavage reaction of the VS Ribozyme may be different from those of other catalytic RNAs. While at present time there is limited information available on the structure and function of the VS ribozyme, generating an artificial phylogeny for the ribozyme would prove useful in probing the structural and functional properties of this ribozyme. Through an in vitro selection assay we hope not only to define an artificial phylogeny for the ribozyme, but also to select for a variant of the VS Ribozyme that is capable of at least 15 percent ligation efficiency for use in NAIM/NAIS experiments.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31GM020605-03
Application #
6525716
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BIOL-1 (02))
Program Officer
Toliver, Adolphus
Project Start
2002-08-01
Project End
2003-07-31
Budget Start
2002-08-01
Budget End
2003-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$22,883
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
082359691
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520