(369b) Using RNAs as a built-in sensors of cell biology

RNA has long been known to serve key roles in information flow of the central dogma, but its functional role in regulating gene expression across all life-forms, under varying environmental conditions, has become increasingly intriguing. From an application stance, our ongoing understanding of RNA functions, beyond their catalytic roles, have revolutionized our thinking of biotechnology, medicine, agriculture etc. Yet, deciphering underlying principles of structure-function relations that describe biochemical properties of RNAs remains a major challenge, hindering progress in our full comprehension of the wide biocatalytic roles that are suspected for these molecules. In part, this is due to the fact that mapping how the biochemistry and structural arrangements of RNAs give rise to their functions within the cell, in the context of complex cellular regulation and biological constraints, is not an easy task. In this talk, we will discuss current knowledge of RNAs as sensors and transducers and discuss our advancements in the development of quantitative, high-throughput methods that examine fundamental chemical paradigms of RNA function in vivo. We will focus in particular on the natural roles of RNAs as monitors of biomolecular processes that are particularly important during cellular stress responses. We will also discuss our work in this field and the new paradigms of RNA function that we are uncovering so that these molecules can be rationally redesigned for novel synthetic roles.