The innovation engine for new materials

Denis Victorov

DenisVictorov

Major: 

Biochemistry

University: 

University of California, Santa Barbara

Mentor(s): 

Nathaniel Charest

Faculty Sponsor(s): 

Joan-Emma Shea

Faculty Sponsor's Department(s): 

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Project Title: 

Computational Modeling of a Unique Region in Ribosomal RNA

Project Description: 

One of the most remarkable nanomachines identified in biological systems is the ribosome. In particular, there exists an unidentified three-way junction (3WJ) in the ribosome that is highly conserved across biological kingdoms which appears to reflect some propensity for motion. This region is unique in that while its nucleotide secondary structure can be accurately determined, when in the context of the ribosome, it folds in a completely unprecedented manner, with unusual tertiary contacts guiding its stable, interned structure. We intend to use NVT dynamics with a CHARMM force field and explicit solvent to probe the conformational landscape of the 3WJ and its associated molecular motions. We hope to use these methods to guide future experiments and strengthen existing theories regarding this portion of the ribosome.