Barbara Golden
Professor

AFFILIATIONS: Biochemistry, Biological Sciences (by courtesy)
OFFICE: Biochemistry 22
LAB: Biochemistry 22
PHONE: 765-496-6165
EMAIL: barbgolden@purdue.edu

Research

The focus of our research is the structure and folding of catalytic RNAs. Unlike proteins, RNAs have a highly charged backbone, only 4 different monomeric units (compared to the 20 amino acids that make up proteins) and functional groups that are largely sequestered within the majorand minor grooves of the double helix. Yet, in the presence of magnesium ion, many RNA molecules have stable, globular, tertiary structures that support biological catalysis. To understand how these molecules fold and function, we are investigating RNA structures by X-ray crystallography.