University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Studies of the Catalytic-Metal-Binding Site in the Hammerhead Ribozyme Using the Phosphorothioate Approach

Cunningham, Lynette Anne

This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/84452

Description

Title
Studies of the Catalytic-Metal-Binding Site in the Hammerhead Ribozyme Using the Phosphorothioate Approach
Author(s)
Cunningham, Lynette Anne
Issue Date
1999
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Lu, Yi
Department of Study
Chemistry
Discipline
Chemistry
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Chemistry, Inorganic
Language
eng
Abstract
The phosphorothioate approach has been used widely in the literature in combination with activity assays to establish an interaction of metal ions with phosphate oxygens in the ribozyme structure. An enhancement in cleavage rate upon addition of a softer metal ion than Mg2+, such as Mn2+ is taken as evidence for coordination of the metal ion to the phosphorothioate sulfur and by analogy, an interaction of Mg 2+ with oxygen in the native ribozyme. UV-vis, EXAFS and 31 P NMR evidence for the interaction of Hg2+ with the phosphorothioate sulfur in the hammerhead ribozyme is presented here along with evidence for the unexpected discovery that soft metal ions like Hg 2+ and Mn2+ are capable of catalyzing desulfurization of the phosphorothioate at rates similar to that of ribozyme-catalyzed cleavage.
Graduation Semester
1999
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/84452

Owning Collections

Graduate Dissertations and Theses at Illinois PRIMARY
Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois
Dissertations and Theses - Chemistry