Agris Lab


AGRIS LABORATORY RESEARCHERS
ESTELLA M. GUSTILO Since the compilation of the Genetic Code, questions have arisen as to how 61 codes decoded 20 amino acids. The mysteries of the Genetic Code lie within the adaptor molecule of protein synthesis: the transfer RNA (tRNA). In 1966, Dr. Francis Crick offered the Wobble Hypothesis to explain the degeneracy of the Genetic Code. The Wobble Hypothesis states that one tRNA can decode more than one code due to third base promiscuity: The first two bases of the codon of mRNA pair with the anticodon of tRNA in strict Watson-Crick base pairing; however, the third base pair consists of loose or wobble pairing. Dr. Paul Agris and his colleagues have provided evidence supporting Dr. Crick’s Hypothesis. However, Dr. Agris found that, although essentially true, the wobble pairing is far more compilicated than mere third base promiscuity. Post-transcriptional modifications of tRNA appear to be very important in the decoding of the Genetic Code. Hence, Dr. Agris devised the Modified Wobble Hypothesis (1991) which emphasizes the significance of modifications of tRNA in protein synthesis. My work in the lab focuses on the effects of these modifications on translation. Since joining the lab in 2005, I have worked on designing synthetic RNA (modeled after tRNA) that bind and inhibit the function of an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, glutamyl tRNA synthetase (ERS). Currently, I am working on kinetic experiments for various projects in the lab using radiolabeled RNA. For my thesis project, I will focus on the effects of modifications of tRNA on the decoding of arginine, an amino acid with 6 codons. HONORS National Science Foundation Pre-doctoral Fellowship PUBLICATIONS Gustilo E.M., Dubois D., Lapointe J., and Agris P.F. (2007). Designing RNA inhibitors of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase: E. coli Glutamyl-tRNA Synthetase is inhibited by modified and unmodified anticodon stem-loop domains and a microhelix. Manuscript submitted.

AGRIS LABORATORY RESEARCHERS

ESTELLA M. GUSTILO

Since the compilation of the Genetic Code, questions have arisen as to how 61 codes decoded 20 amino acids. The mysteries of the Genetic Code lie within the adaptor molecule of protein synthesis: the transfer RNA (tRNA). In 1966, Dr. Francis Crick offered the Wobble Hypothesis to explain the degeneracy of the Genetic Code. The Wobble Hypothesis states that one tRNA can decode more than one code due to third base promiscuity: The first two bases of the codon of mRNA pair with the anticodon of tRNA in strict Watson-Crick base pairing; however, the third base pair consists of loose or wobble pairing.

Dr. Paul Agris and his colleagues have provided evidence supporting Dr. Crick’s Hypothesis. However, Dr. Agris found that, although essentially true, the wobble pairing is far more compilicated than mere third base promiscuity.

Post-transcriptional modifications of tRNA appear to be very important in the decoding of the Genetic Code. Hence, Dr. Agris devised the Modified Wobble Hypothesis (1991) which emphasizes the significance of modifications of tRNA in protein synthesis. My work in the lab focuses on the effects of these modifications on translation.

Since joining the lab in 2005, I have worked on designing synthetic RNA (modeled after tRNA) that bind and inhibit the function of an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, glutamyl tRNA synthetase (ERS). Currently, I am working on kinetic experiments for various projects in the lab using radiolabeled RNA. For my thesis project, I will focus on the effects of modifications of tRNA on the decoding of arginine, an amino acid with 6 codons.

HONORS

National Science Foundation Pre-doctoral Fellowship
PUBLICATIONS
Gustilo E.M., Dubois D., Lapointe J., and Agris P.F. (2007). Designing RNA inhibitors of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase: E. coli Glutamyl-tRNA Synthetase is inhibited by modified and unmodified anticodon stem-loop domains and a microhelix. Manuscript submitted.