Scripps VIVO scripps research logo

  • Index
  • Log in
  • Home
  • People
  • Organizations
  • Research
  • Events
Search form
As of April 1st VIVO Scientific Profiles will no longer updated for faculty, and the link to VIVO will be removed from the library website. Faculty profile pages will continue to be updated via Interfolio. VIVO will continue being used behind the scenes to update graduate student profiles. Please contact helplib@scripps.edu if you have questions.
How to download citations from VIVO | Alternative profile options

Ligand-induced conformational changes observed in single RNA molecules

Academic Article
uri icon
  • Overview
  • Identity
  • Additional Document Info
  • View All
scroll to property group menus

Overview

authors

  • Ha, T.
  • Zhuang, X. W.
  • Kim, H. D.
  • Orr, J. W.
  • Williamson, James
  • Chu, S.

publication date

  • August 1999

journal

  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America  Journal

abstract

  • We present the first demonstration that fluorescence resonance energy transfer can be used to track the motion of a single molecule undergoing conformational changes. As a model system, the conformational changes of individual three-helix junction RNA molecules induced by the binding of ribosomal protein S15 or Mg(2+) ions were studied by changes in single-molecule fluorescence. The transition from an open to a folded configuration was monitored by the change of fluorescence resonance energy transfer between two different dye molecules attached to the ends of two helices in the RNA junction. Averaged behavior of RNA molecules closely resembles that of unlabeled molecules in solution determined by other bulk assays, proving that this approach is viable and suggesting new opportunities for studying protein-nucleic acids interactions. Surprisingly, we observed an anomalously broad distribution of RNA conformations at intermediate ion concentrations that may be attributed to foldability differences among RNA molecules. In addition, an experimental scheme was developed where the real-time response of single molecules can be followed under changing environments. As a demonstration, we repeatedly changed Mg(2+) concentration in the buffer while monitoring single RNA molecules and showed that individual RNA molecules can measure the instantaneous Mg(2+) concentration with 20-ms time resolution, making it the world's smallest Mg(2+) meter.

subject areas

  • Base Sequence
  • Biotin
  • Kinetics
  • Ligands
  • Magnesium
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Oligoribonucleotides
  • RNA
  • Ribosomal Proteins
  • Streptavidin
  • Thermodynamics
scroll to property group menus

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC17735

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0027-8424

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1073/pnas.96.16.9077

PubMed ID

  • 10430898
scroll to property group menus

Additional Document Info

start page

  • 9077

end page

  • 9082

volume

  • 96

issue

  • 16

©2022 The Scripps Research Institute | Terms of Use | Powered by VIVO

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Support