Date/Time
Date(s) - 15/09/2004
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Title: Physical Principals of Nucleic Acid folding & Hybridization & New Design Software

Speaker: Dr. John SantaLucia

Institute: Deptartment of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit

Location: ABB 102

Description:

Dr. SantaLucia’s seminar will discuss the physical principles and underlying assumptions in models for predicting DNA secondary and tertiary structure and various applications of these principles. His group has determined a nearly complete database of thermodynamic parameters for Watson-Crick base pairs, allpossible mismatches, and a variety of loop motifs including hairpins, bulges and internal loops. These parameters are required for accurate prediction of DNA hybridization and secondary structure. Knowledge of DNA structure is important for designing oligonucleotide microarrays for mRNA expression profiling, primers for PCR reactions, and probes for various genotyping diagnostics. The goal of his research is to develop complete understanding of the sequence and solution dependence of DNA folding and to integrate this knowledge into software that allows prediction of DNA behavior and automated design of DNA-based applications. The publicly available on-line HYTHER server http://ozone2.chem.wayne.edu/ calculates duplex hybridization thermodynamics, match vs. mismatch hybridization, and allows for multi-state competitive equilibrium to be solved. Most recently, he has developed new methods for RNA and DNA 3D structure prediction. His other research includes NMR structure determination of RNA with bound drugs and proteins.