Undergraduate Honors Thesis

 

Principles and Properties of RNA Self-Assembly Public Deposited

https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/undergraduate_honors_theses/zw12z5930
Abstract
  • Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules are membraneless assemblies of condensed RNA and protein that form through multivalent interactions between the constituent components. Recently, RNA self-assembly has been shown to contribute to the formation of stress granules, which are RNP granules associated with the stress response and neurodegeneration. However, little is understood about the properties of self-assembled RNA. Here, I show that different RNA sequences can self- assemble into condensates with distinct material properties and partitioning preferences in vitro. Due to interactions that minimize surface free energy, RNA self-assembly can generate the spontaneous self-patterning of RNA assemblies. By reducing surface free energy, thereby promoting RNA-RNA interactions, RNAs stabilize multiphase RNA assemblies or assemble into surface shells composed of a hyperstable interacting meshwork of RNA. In principle, the thermostability of RNA self-assembly could give rise to uncontrolled RNA aggregation in the cell without modulatory mechanisms, and I show that the condensation of certain transcripts onto stress granules can be limited by the DEAD-box helicase eIF4A and potentially other helicases. These data suggest a view of the cell where intermolecular RNA-RNA interactions drive RNA self-assembly and where the cell utilizes a diversity of mechanisms to limit such RNA based condensation.
Creator
Date Awarded
  • 2019-01-01
Academic Affiliation
Advisor
Committee Member
Granting Institution
Dernière modification
  • 2019-12-02
Resource Type
Déclaration de droits
Language
License

Des relations

Dans Collection:

Articles