BIO

Chloe is a second-year student double majoring in public health and psychology with a concentration in neuroscience. She currently conducts research in the Silvers lab, mentored by Victoria Ogunkunle. Outside of research, Chloe works as a learning assistant and is involved with Research Development at FSU. In her free time, Chloe enjoys playing tennis.

Differential Scanning Fluorimetry: A High-Throughput Screening Method for Monitoring RNA Stability

Abstract

Functional RNAs are characterized by 3-D structure and ligand binding. The riboswitches Neomycin and PreQ1 are well-characterized molecules with clear structured transitions induced by ligand binding. These molecules can serve as a model system for developing tools to monitor structural transitions in RNA folds. We have developed a system that uses intercalating dyes to monitor structural transitions by differential scanning fluorimetry. Within data, we are able to identify clear structural shifts for the ligand-bound and unbound states of both the Neomycin and PreQ1 riboswitches. We anticipate this approach will be widely applicable to other functional RNAs such as riboswitches. These results are pertinent in this field and others because functional RNAs are critical regulators of gene expression.

Keywords: Biophysics, Biochemistry, RNA, Riboswitch, Differential Scanning Fluorimetry