Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: STEM Research
Tyrell Carr - Saint Augustine's University
Co-Author(s): Florence Fields, Saint Augustine's University, Raleigh, NC; Lashan Knowles, Saint Augustine's University, Raleigh, NC; and Ka'shawn Robertson, Saint Augustine's University, Raleigh, NC
Saint Augustine’s University has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) – Research Initiation Award (RIA) to support research in the Carr Lab focused on the function of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-capped RNAs in regulating plant stress tolerance. The Carr Lab will isolate and characterize plant NAD-capped RNAs in response to different abiotic and biotic stress conditions using Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana as primary systems. Additionally, the Carr Lab will characterize NAD-capped RNA metabolism in altered plant hormonal and post-translational modification signaling backgrounds. The intellectual merit of the research is centered both on alternative capping of plant RNAs with metabolites (i.e. NAD, FAD, CoA, and UDP-Glucose) and metabolite-capped RNA stability and translation in plants compared to non-plants. Potentially, NAD-capped RNAs and other metabolite-capped RNAs might comprise additional layers in the regulation of gene expression that is coupled to metabolic networks. The broader impact of the research is the participation of undergraduate students in authentic ? cutting edge course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) in preparation for the STEM workforce and/or graduate studies. Presented are integrated approaches that will be exploited to gain detailed understanding of plant NAD-capped RNA function and metabolism by the Carr Lab and collaborative laboratory CUREs at Saint Augustine?s University.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF HBCU-UP RIA
Faculty Advisor: None Listed,
NSF Affiliation: HBCU-UP