Special research
areas 579:
RNA-ligand cross reactions
Sprecher:
Representative: Professor Dr.
Joachim W. Engels
Institute for Organic Chemistry
and Chemical Biology of the
University in Frankfurt
The special
research area 553 of the University
of Frankfurt was granted in
2001 and is investigating the
molecular mechanism involved
in the RNA recognition by natural
and synthetic ligands. Scientists
from the research areas of chemistry
and pharmacology are involved
in this SFB. Further members
of this SFB are found in the
Departments of Biology and Medicine
at the University of Frankfurt
(including the ZAFES-members:
Prof. Dr. Joachim Engels,
Prof. Dr. Michael Göbel,
Prof. Dr Michael Karas),
at the “Georg-Speyer-Haus”
and at the Institute for Organic
Chemistry at the University
of Mainz.
The goal, of the 13 research
groups involved in this special
research area, is the evaluation
of the mechanism responsible
for the ribo nucleic acid recognition
by natural and synthetic ligands.
Second to proteins, RNA is
the most prominent component
of living organisms and is responsible
for the regulation of a wide
variety of cellular functions,
including protein synthesis
and cell proliferation. RNA
ligands can be classified into
proteins, nucleic acids, low
molecular natural substances,
synthetic molecules and ions.
The biological research groups
are investigating the role of
RNA in the cellular system.
Their main emphasis is placed
on the characterization of relevant
RNA-protein cross reactions
in cells. The screening for
potential active substances,
which can modify well defined
biological functions, stand
in the center of the research.
Additionally, the structure
and dynamics of RNA-ligand complexes
are being investigated. The
common goal is the development
of tailor made ligand molecules
targeted at important RNA structures,
as well as the transfer of strategies
aimed to inhibit, e.g. the reproduction
of viruses and bacteria.
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