Sensing the environment through RNA structure  

Abstract:  A given RNA molecule can take on diverse secondary and 
tertiary structures, which are modulated by the cellular environment.  
We and others have developed methods to query RNA secondary structure 
in vivo and genome-wide.  Our application of these methods has 
revealed structure-function relationships in plant transcriptomes in 
response to abiotic stresses such as adverse temperatures and 
salinity.  Our recent progress on this topic, including the role of 
single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in modulating RNA structure, 
will be presented.