# BASE-PAIRING OF LMW RNAS IN REGULATION

> **NIH NIH R01** · NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH · 1988 · $70,158

## Abstract

Diverse populations of low molecular weight RNAs (1mwRNA),
found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, have been
shown to play important roles in a wide variety of cellular
processes including DNA replication, RNA processing, and mRNA
translation.  Their involvement in these processes affects the
regulation of gene expression in normally growing and developing
cells as well as diseased tissues and virus-infected organisms.  Our
laboratory is interested in the structure/function relationships of
1mwRNA sequences and the investigation of intermolecular
1mwRNA:RNA hybridization as an essential molecular mechanism
in 1mwRNA function.  Research efforts are presently focusing on
mouse 4.5S hybridizing RNA (hybRNA), a new mouse 1mwRNA
species of 87 nucleotides which is able to hybridize in vitro with
messenger and 18S rRNAs.  While the function of mouse 4.5S
hybRNA is presently unknown, we believe it is likely to use its
intermolecular RNA:RNA hybridization capabilities for cellular
function(s).  Initial work revealed its expression in all mouse
tissues, indicating a required function in all cell types.  More
recent investigations have demonstrated the presence of 4.5S
hybRNA-homologous gene sequences and/or 1mwRNA transcripts
in bacteria, fungi, amphibia, and mammals.  The occurrence of
4.5S hybRNA-homologous genes and 1mwRNA sequences in such
evolutionary divergent organisms strongly argues for the
conservation of this 1mwRNA species to carry out identical or
similar biological functions essential in all organisms.

The experiments of this investigation will examine both the cell
biology and structure of mouse 4.5S hybRNA.  Cell biology
experiments examining its expression and cellular distribution
under both normal and abnormal growth conditions will provide
insight into the potential function(s) this 1mwRNA species plays
in vivo.  Structural studies defining the nucleotide sequences
responsible for intermolecular RNA:RNA hybridization, as well as
characterizing 4.5S hybRNA-binding proteins, will indicate
nucleotide sequences/RNA structures/associated polypeptides of
the 4.5S hybRNA molecule potentially importnat in those
function(s).  Analysis of experimental results obtained from both
cell biology and structural investigations will lead to a better
understanding of mouse 4.5S hybRNA structure/function
relationships and the possible biological role(s) this evolutionaily-
conserved 1mwRNA sequence play in all organisms.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3176002
- **Project number:** 2R01CA038015-04A1
- **Recipient organization:** NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH
- **SAM.gov UEI:** U3NVH931QJJ3
- **Principal Investigator:** EARL STUART MAXWELL
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $70,158
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1984-07-01 → 1990-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3176002

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3176002, BASE-PAIRING OF LMW RNAS IN REGULATION (2R01CA038015-04A1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3176002. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*