The Many Faces of RNA

The Many Faces of RNA is the subject for the eighth SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals Research Symposia. It highlights a rapidly developing area of scientific investigation. The style and format are deliberately designed to promote in-depth presentations and discussions and to facilitate the forging of collaborations between academic and industrial partners.
This symposium focuses on several of the many fundamental, advancing strategies for exploring RNA and its functions. It emphasizes the interplay between biology, chemistry, genomics, and molecular biology which is leading to exciting new insights and avenues of investigation. The book explores RNA as a therapeutic target, RNA as a tool, RNA and its interactions, along with chemical, computational, and structural investigations.

Introduction.
Overview:
RNA as a Therapeutic Target for Bleomycin, S.M. Hecht.
RNA: Chemistry, Structure and Interactions:
Synthetic RNA Modification and Cross-linking Approaches towards the Structure of the Hairpin Ribozyme and the HIV-1 Tat Protein Interaction with TAR RNA, M.J. Gait, D.J. Earnshaw, M.A. Farrow, and N.A. Naryshkin.
The Ribosome - The Universal Protein-synthesizing Machine, R. Brimacombe.
tRNA Recognition by Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases, S. Cusack, A. Yaremchuk, and M. Tukalo. RNA-Protein Recognition During RNA Processing and Maturation, G. Varani.
RNA as a Target/RNA as a Tool:
Exploiting RNA: Potential Targets, Screens and Drug Development, C.D. Prescott, L. Hegg, K. Nurse, R. Gontarek, H. Li, V. Emerick, T. Sterner, M. Gress, G. Thom, S. Guth, and D. Rispoli.
Structural Basis for Aminoglycoside Antibiotic Action, J.D. Puglisi.
Protein-RNA Recognition in a Highly Conserved Ribosomal Domain Targeted by Thiazole Antibiotics, D.E. Draper.
Rnase P and Its Substrate, L.A. Kirsebom.
Interfering with Gene Function at the RNA Level with Oligoymes - the Development of New Tools and Therapeutics, B.S. Sproat, S.T. George, M. Ma, and A.R. Goldberg.
Progress towards Therapeutic Application of SELEX-derived Aptamers, B. Polisky.
Catalysis of Organic Reactions by RNA - Strategies for the Selection of Catalytic RNAs, A. Jaschke.
Conclusions and Opportunities, B.W. Metcalf.
Appendix: Abstracts of Posters.
Index.