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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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Prof. Samuel E. Butcher, University of Wisconsin-Madison
RNA-protein interactions that drive spliceosome assembly
The spliceosome is a massive 2 MDa assembly of 5 RNAs (U1, U2, U4, U5 and U6)and more than 100 proteins. This ribonucleoprotein complex is responsible for precursor messenger RNA (preâmRNA) splicing, an essential step in eukaryotic gene expression. Biochemical and genetic data indicate that the spliceosomal U2 and U6 RNAs are involved in active site formation, and directly contact the preâmRNA substrate during splicing catalysis. Prior to catalysis, the spliceosomal RNAs undergo largeâscale conformational rearrangements during assembly. These rearrangements are protein catalyzed, and the structure of proteinâRNA interactions involved in this process will be presented. Additionally, recent data that shed light on the mechanism of the proteinâmediated RNA conformational rearrangements during spliceosome assembly will be discussed.
For more information contact Prof. Nick Hud (404-385-1162) or Prof. Bridgette Barry (404-385-6985).
