RNA folding is involved in many biochemical processes, such as protein synthesis and gene regulation. When RNA is folded correctly, it can perform its function in the cell. By studying RNA folding using catalytic RNA, the process of RNA folding can be better understood. By using catalytic RNA, folding can be monitored by the fraction of intron spliced, which will give estimation of how much RNA was folded correctly. The primary goal of this research is to observe the splicing and folding behavior of bI1 group II intron under different reaction conditions in order to understand the specific folding pathway of the intron. By plasmid DNA linearization and through <i>in-vitro</i> transcription by T7 polymerase, the RNA can be quantified, and splicing reactions will be conducted. The different reaction conditions that will be used will represent near-physiological and non-physiological conditions under high salt concentrations to induce splicing. By analyzing the data through a capillary electrophoresis instrument, the identity of the peaks can be analyzed and correlated to different sections of the spliced RNA and the amount of precursor present. Efforts are underway to find the optimal conditions to visualize the RNA splicing products on the capillary electrophoresis instrument before the splicing reactions occur, in order to analyze the data properly.

Observing the folding behavior of bi1 group II intron

249th National Meeting (2015)

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