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SUMMARY:Inhibiting RNA-protein interactions with branched peptide boronic 
 acids - Prof. Webster L Santos\, Virginia Tech\, USA
DTSTART:20110728T130000Z
DTEND:20110728T140000Z
UID:TALK32188@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:M. Madan Babu
DESCRIPTION:Many important functions of RNA result from specific proteins 
 binding to complex tertiary structures of RNA.  One such example is eviden
 t in the HIV-1\ntransactivation response element region (TAR) RNA\, a cons
 erved 59-nucleotide stem loop located at the 5' end of all nascent transcr
 ibed HIV-1 mRNA.\nBinding of the transcriptional activator protein Tat and
  the cyclin T1/cdk1 kinase complex promotes efficient transcriptional elon
 gation.  Another RNA\,\nRRE\, plays a vital role in RNA splicing and the R
 ev protein is essential for its export from the nucleus.  Disruption of Ta
 t-TAR or Rev-RRE interaction\nresults in the blockade of viral replication
  and thus represents a viable strategy in developing new anti-HIV therapeu
 tics.  We recently screened a\nlibrary of branched peptides and discovered
  selective binders for HIV-1 RNAs.  We will discuss the cell permeability\
 , cell toxicity\, in-vitro inhibition\nassay utilizing a firefly luciferas
 e system of these branched peptides as well as the development of branched
  peptide boronic acids as the next\ngeneration inhibitors.\n
LOCATION:Structural Studies Seminar Room\, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Bio
 logy\, Cambridge\, UK
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