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Contreras-Martin Research Group Laboratory of Molecular Engineering

Engineering at the interface of RNA-protein complexes for solving difficult problems in biology and medicine . Contreras-Martin Research Group Laboratory of Molecular Engineering University of Texas at Austin Department of Chemical Engineering Austin, TX 78712 USA.

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Contreras-Martin Research Group Laboratory of Molecular Engineering

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  1. Engineering at the interface of RNA-protein complexes for solving difficult problems in biology and medicine Contreras-Martin Research Group Laboratory of Molecular Engineering University of Texas at Austin Department of Chemical Engineering Austin, TX 78712 USA Graduate Recruiting Weekend- 2.26.2011

  2. What does Artic foxes and drug-resistant bacteria have in common? Summer Environment Summer Environment Contreras-Martin Research Lab Graduate Recruiting Weekend- 2.26.2011

  3. A challenge in fighting pathogenic bacteria • Disease-causing microbes that have become resistant to antibiotic drug therapy are an increasing public health problem. • ~ 70 percent of the bacteria that cause infections in hospitals are resistant to at least one of the drugs most commonly used for treatment. Contreras-Martin Research Lab Graduate Recruiting Weekend- 2.26.2011

  4. RNA-protein complexes: key anti-bacterial targets “Possibly the most pregnant recent development in molecular biology is the realization that the beginnings of life are closely associated with the interactions of proteins and nucleic acids” — Florence O. Bell Example: Bacterial ribosome critical for survival (Nobel Prize, 2009) Chloramphenicol, Erythromycin, Neomycin, Gentamicin Tetracycline, Thiostrepton, Spiramycin… Contreras-Martin Research Lab Graduate Recruiting Weekend- 2.26.2011

  5. Molecular aspects of RNA-based recognition Challenge: Understanding how to discriminate among all cellular molecules for recognition of a specific target RNA • Structural and chemical features of RNAs that allow them to be recognized as drug targets? • How do these interactions rearrange with environmental changes? • How do they recognize their natural targets? E. coli cytoplasm ~6mg/ml RNA Contreras-Martin Research Lab Graduate Recruiting Weekend- 2.26.2011

  6. Engineering RNAs and RNA-targeting molecules with novel functionality Can we exploit these sophisticated recognition methods for the design and development of new biotechnologically and therapeutically relevant RNAs? Graduate Recruiting Weekend- 2.26.2011

  7. Understanding and Engineering RNAs • Engineer molecular tools to study: • Structure • Particle physics • Chemical composition Approach 2: Exploit features of intermolecular interactions for new biotechnological tools Approach 1: Gain mechanistic insights about RNA-protein recognition • reconfigure cellular behavior • Controllable RNA elements • RNA-based sensors • Predict resistance • Modeling Techniques Approach 3: Design of new RNA molecules and RNA-targeting compounds with novel functionality • Random mutagenesis • Rational design • De novo design Graduate Recruiting Weekend- 2.26.2011

  8. Contact Information Dr. Lydia Contreras-Martin Office: 5.410 CPE Email: lcontrer@che.utexas.edu Phone: 512-471-2453 Graduate Recruiting Weekend- 2.26.2011

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