Biophysical Society Bulletin | September 2018

Publications

Know the Editor Karin Musier-Forsyth The Ohio State University

This tRNA is specifically packaged into new viral particles and, in a separate project, we have recently made progress in understanding how another human factor, lysyl-tRNA syn- thetase, is diverted from its normal function in the cell to help recruit the tRNA primer into virus particles. At a cocktail party of non-scientists, how would you explain what you do? I am working on understanding how HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS, replicates, with the goal of developing new anti-viral agents. All viruses are made up of a nucleic acid genome (like our DNA genome), but HIV-1 contains an RNA genome. The RNA needs to be converted to DNA before it can be integrated into the human genome and replicate. In addition, viruses do not encode enough information in their genomes to produce all the proteins and nucleic acids they need to function. Thus, the process of viral replication uses a very large number of host factors. One major goal of my research is to understand host-virus interactions in order to develop new therapeutics that disrupt the function of the vi- rus without disrupting the normal function of the human cell.

Editor, Nucleic Acids and Genome Biophysics

Karen Musier-Forsyth

What are you currently working on that excites you? I am involved in an exciting collaboration with James Munro (Tufts). We are using fluorescence methods (both single molecule and ensemble FRET) to monitor the conformational changes in the HIV-1 RNA genome 5’-untranslated region. We are probing the dynamics and conformational chang- es that occur as a result of both host cell factor and HIV-1 protein binding. This work has important implications for regulation of genomic RNA packaging. One of the host factors we are interested in is human tRNALys, the primer for reverse transcription of the viral RNA into DNA.

BPS nowAccepting Suggestions and Proposals for Biophysics eBooks Have you thought about writing a book but find the idea daunting? Have you wanted to pick up a succinct well-written book on a biophysics topic but realized it didn’t exist? We want to hear from you. For those interested in writing a book, the BPS-IOP ebooks program offers numerous resources as well as personal help and guidance to assist you. If you are interested in being part of this unique program, please submit your suggestion or a summary of your proposal, detailing the topic, concept, competition, and potential audience to Jessica.Fricchione@iop.org, including a current biography and contact details. Want to know more? Visit http:/ ioppublishing.org/biophysical-society-ebooks/. To discuss your idea for an ebook, contact Jessica Fricchione at 215/627-0880 or Jessica.Fricchione@iop.org.

Peer Review Week 2018 will run September 10–15, 2018. There will be events, publications, and online discussions on issues ranging from peer review of and by early career researchers to the latest research on bias in peer review. The week will include a series of blog posts on the topic at the Scholarly Kitchen (https:/scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org). These will include a peer-review-themed Ask the Chefs; Peer Review 101: a roundup of the most popular posts on peer review; a guest post on Practical Learnings for Managing and Technical Editors from the 8th International Congress on Peer Review and Scientific Publication; a literature review of recent studies of bias in peer review including a summary of recommendations for addressing it; and a big picture piece on the environmen-

tal requirements for healthy, transparent, diverse peer review. Follow on Twitter @PeerRevWeek #PeerReviewWeek18.

September 2018

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