IRES: U.S.-Poland - RNA Structures that Promote Encapsidation

North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC

Investigators

Abstract

OISE 06-51876 Stefan Franzen North Carolina State University This U.S.-Polish project is a summer undergraduate student program based at Adam Mickiewicz University (AMU) and the Institute for Bioorganic Chemistry (IBCh) of the Polish National Academy of Sciences (PAN) in Poznan, Poland. The principal investigators are Dr. Stefan Franzen at North Carolina State University, Bohdan Skalski from Adam Mickiewicz University and Ryszard Adamiak from IBCh The program involves research and education on problems of general interest for RNA structure and function. The theme of the research is the study of structures of oligonucleotides that are involved in viral coat protein assembly using methods that include modified fluorescent oligonucleotides. The PI and co-PIs have recently embarked on program of research that involves the development of novel plant viral nanotechnology. The structure of RNA is crucial for understanding viral assembly, which has application in diagnosis and prevention of virally transmitted disease as well as the new and growing area of plant viral nanotechnology. Plant viral nanotechnology involves the use of harmless plant viruses as tools for drug delivery and materials synthesis. US students will benefit from the expertise that currently exists in Poland in the area of nucleic acids chemistry.