Seminar:

Profile: Dr. Venkat Gopalan obtained a B.Sc. (Chemistry) from University of Madras, India, and a Ph.D. (Biochemistry) from the University of New Mexico (Mentor: Professor Robert H. Glew). He was then a post-doctoral fellow in the group of Professor Sidney Altman, Yale University. During his post-doctoral tenure, he was also a visiting scholar for brief periods at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, England. He came to OSU in 1998 and is currently a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry.

Abstract: The enzyme catalyzing 5'-tRNA maturation, RNase P, functions either as protein alone or as a proteinaided ribozyme depending on the organism and subcellular location. From biochemical studies on both versions, we are beginning to gain insights into various facets of RNase P catalysis including unanticipated thematic parallels in the functioning of the two distinct forms, which arose through independent evolution. Importantly, results from these studies enable a better appreciation of the nexus between RNase P and diseases.