Chemistry Seminar: At the Interface of RNA
At the Interface of RNA; from Unusual Nucleic Acid Helices to Toxins that Cleave tRNA
Dr. Michael Gleghorn
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
School of Chemistry and Materials Science, RIT
Dr. Gleghorn will discuss the research currently undertaken in his lab, including the effect or protonation on adenine-containing nucleic acids, and bacterial nucleic acid binding proteins.
Abstract:
The Gleghorn lab is focused on two major research themes that include i) the effect or protonation on adenine-containing nucleic acids, and ii) bacterial nucleic acid binding proteins, specifically VapC toxin proteins that cleave tRNA and permit pathogenic bacteria to hide in a dormant state. Following the X-ray crystal structure determination of the parallel polyriboadenylic duplex in acidic conditions by Dr. Gleghorn while at the University of Rochester, his lab has now worked towards exploring other facets of this unusual helical structure that he will describe. These include: i) adaptation of a DNA nanoswitch to better characterize poly(A) duplex formation, ii) consideration of errors in the protein data bank associated with nucleic-acid containing crystal structures grown at acidic pH, iii) technology development involving parallel poly(A) duplex formation, and iv) educational tool development to teach others about unusual nucleic acid helices. In regards to the VapC protein, the Gleghorn lab has been working towards producing soluble protein for the ultimate goal of determining the first ever X-ray crystal structure of a VapC–tRNA complex. VapC homologs, from a variety of species are very interesting since they can control bacterial cell growth, they form homodimers, and they form heterodimers with antitoxin VapB that “shuts off” VapC, preventing it from cleaving tRNA. VapC homologs are notorious for being insoluble and we will discuss our efforts to overcome this. Additionally, we will describe work towards a review article we have been writing that details how to trap RNases like VapC while bound to cognate RNA, yet in a state that is prior to the actual RNA cleavage event.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Gleghorn is from Western Pennsylvania and is a first generation college student (neither of his parents graduated high school and had him when they were very young). As a teenager and into college, he was a dairy farmer, which made sense since his family had been farmers as well. He attended a Penn State branch campus as his start to collegiate academics (first two years), and fell in love with the idea of it. He then earned his B.S. in Biology with a Chemistry minor from Clarion University, a state school in Pennsylvania near Cook Forest (an old forest, with enormous girthed trees; ecology class was fun there). He then earned his Ph.D at Penn State University in the lab of Dr. Katsuhiko Murakami, where he learned to be an X-ray crystallographer who studies protein–nucleic acid interactions, specifically RNA polymerases. From there he joined the lab of Dr. Lynne Maquat at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and initially also jointly mentored by Dr. Clara Kielkopf. Dr. Gleghorn worked at URMC for seven years, first as a postdoctoral researcher and then as an assistant research professor. There he studied proteins that interact with RNA to elicit mRNA decay mechanisms in cells. He then joined RIT in the fall of 2016 as an assistant professor, starting his own research laboratory. He has 4 children, two boys and two girls, aged 8 to 16, and he very much enjoys coaching his kids in sports in his free time.
Intended Audience:
All are welcome.
To request an interpreter, please visit myaccess.rit.edu
Event Snapshot
When and Where
Who
Open to the Public
Interpreter Requested?
No