Fedor Laboratory

			Martha J. Fedor, Ph.D. Principal Investigator mfedor@scripps.edu Fedor CV

	Julia Viladoms Claverol, Ph.D. Research Associate viladoms@scripps.edu	I am studying the catalytic mechanism of the glmS ribozyme, which is also a riboswitch that provides negative feed back regulation of glmS gene expression. Previously we have used the fluorescence properties of a guanine analogue to determine the microscopic pKa of an essential guanine residue in the active site and have concluded that it participates in catalysis in its neutral protonated form. We are currently focusing on the role of the cofactor in the catalytic mechanism by acquiring pre-steady state kinetics of glmS cleavage promoted by several ligands that differ in intrinsic Brønsted base strength and binding affinity. We hope to be able to correlate cofactor promoted rates with cofactor base strength and binding affinity, as well as to determine the extent of proton transfer in the transition state. The results of these experiments will allow us to deduce the cofactor’s role in general acid base catalysis of glmS ribozyme cleavage.

	Peter Watson Graduate Student watsonp@scripps.edu	I am investigating riboswitch activity in vivo, in order to gain insight into riboswitch function amidst the complex milieu of intracellular metabolites. We recently discovered that the glmS riboswitch integrates information from inhibitory, as well as activating metabolite ligands. I am interested in extending these findings to gain a quantitative understanding of signal integration by riboswitches in vivo.

	Elisabeth Mahen Research Assistant emahen@scripps.edu	My goal is to determine how nonspecific RNA chaperones influence RNA folding in vivo. RNA chaperones are proteins that promote RNA folding by interacting with misfolded RNAs to facilitate structural rearrangements. We will study representatives from the major classes of proteins that exhibit RNA chaperone activity in vitro, using our intracellular RNA folding assays to analyze how they affect specific RNA conformational transitions.

	Lois Yum Admin Assistant Research loisyum@scripps.edu	Provide administrative support for Principal Investigator and laboratory personnel.


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