SILVERMAN, Scott, K 

Department of Chemistry 

Ph.D. (1997) California Institute of Technology

   Research Topics 

- RNA Structure, Folding, and catalysis
- DNA as a structural constraint
- DNA as a catalyst
- nucleic acid enzymes as sensors

   Research Interest

The Silverman laboratory studies nucleic acid structure, folding, and catalysis. In these efforts, we use concepts and techniques from organic chemistry, chemical biology, and biochemistry. We investigate fundamental features of RNA folding and catalysis; we apply double-stranded DNA as a structural constraint for nanotechnology; we study DNA as a catalyst (deoxyribozyme) for bioorganic chemical reactions; and we pursue allosteric nucleic acid enzymes (aptazymes) as sensors for practical detection of environmental toxins. For a more complete description, please see the lab website at http://www.scs.uiuc.edu/chem/silverman.html.

   Key Words  Nucleic acids, RNA, DNA, structure, folding, catalysis, thermodynamics, kinetics, fluorescence, in vitro seleciton, scaffold, constraint, nanotechnology, deoxyribozyme, DNA enxyme, aptazyme, sensor, toxin

   Current Research Funding   March of Dimes, American Chemical Society, National Institutes of Health, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

CBC Members