The Double Life of RNA
Lecture 4 – Life at the End of the Chromosome: Another RNA Machine
by Thomas R. Cech, Ph.D.
2008 Neuroscience
2007 HIV/AIDS
2006 Stem Cells
2006 Evolution
2005 Evolution
2004 Obesity
2003 Cancer/Neuroscience
2002 Genomics/Chemical Genetics
2001 Sex Determination
2000 Biological Clocks
1999 Infectious Diseases
1998 Cardiovascular Diseases
1997 Neuroscience
1995 RNA
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Lecture 1 – Catalysis: Chemical and Biochemical
Lecture 2 – RNA as an Enzyme: Discovery, Origins of Life, and Medical Possibilities
Lecture 3 – How to Accelerate a Reaction 100,000,000,000 Times Using Only RNA
Lecture 4 – Life at the End of the Chromosome: Another RNA Machine
Start of Lecture 4
Introduction by HHMI Vice President Dr. Joseph Perpich
Human chromosomes and their replication
What happens at the end of the chromosomes?
Functions of telomeres
DNA sequences of telomeres in different species
Oxytricha
as a source of telomere proteins
How do the telomere proteins interact with DNA?
The 3D structure of telomere proteins
Replication problems at the ends of the DNA strand
Telomerase solves the end-replication problem
Using PCR to clone telomerase RNA genes
Telomerase RNA is similar across different species
Using antibodies to tag proteins in a cell
Alpha/beta telomere protein location in the nucleus
Using an RNA probe to tag telomerase RNA
Location of telomerase suggests its replication role
Summary
Cech lab personnel and path of scientific training
Q&A: What are telomerases doing in "storage"?
Closing remarks by HHMI President Choppin
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