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April 1, 2005|Volume 33, Number 247


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Anna Marie Pyle



Anna Marie Pyle is new
William Edward Gilbert Professor

Anna Marie Pyle, who was recently appointed the William Edward Gilbert Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry (MB&B), specializes in studies on the structure and function of catalytic RNA, RNA helicase mechanisms and the computational analysis of RNA structure.

Specifically, her research group explores how RNA can fold and organize itself to catalyze reactions. She studies a model system called Group II introns, which are among the largest catalytic RNA molecules in nature, with the goal of determining their kinetic folding pathway and the molecular architecture of the Group II intron core. Pyle devised a method to create genetically engineered ribozymes-enzymes.

Pyle is also studying DexH/D proteins, which play a role in RNA metabolism and viral replication. Her research may one day contribute to new drug therapies for viral diseases, and her computational studies have led to the development of new programs and theoretical frameworks that complement experimental work on RNA and RNA-binding proteins.

Since 2002, she has also been a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator.

Pyle earned her B.A. from Princeton University and her Ph.D. in chemistry from Columbia University. While a graduate student at Columbia, she was awarded the J. Malcolm Miller Teaching Award and the Pegram Award. She conducted her postdoctoral research with Thomas R. Cech at the University of Colorado. Cech and Yale biologist Sidney Altman earned the Nobel Prize for their research showing that certain RNA molecules could catalyze reactions -- a finding that has been a major influence on her work.

Pyle taught at Columbia University for 10 years before joining the Yale faculty in 2002. While at Columbia, she was awarded the Irma T. Hirschl and Monique Weill-Caulier Career Scientist Award and the Searle Scholars Award, and was named a Beckman Young Investigator and a National Science Foundation National Young Investigator. In 2002, she won the New York City Mayor's Award for Excellence in Science and Technology.

At Yale, Pyle has developed new MB&B courses and has served as director of the Division of Biological Sciences since 2004. She has also served on numerous University committees, including the Curriculum Reform Committee for MB&B, the Biological Sciences Advisory Council and the Graduate Education Committee for MB&B.


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ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS

Research sheds more light on brain's role in face recognition

Former Mexican president Ernesto Zedillo to give a public lecture

Activist Peruvian theater troupe in residence during April

Olympic soccer star to talk about 'Going for Gold' as Kiphuth Fellow

Grants support special initiatives of the Yale Library

Conference participants aim to re-envision . . .

'Simply Ming!' chef will give campus talk

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE NEWS

Symposium will address the 'disconnect' between research and policy . . .

Conference to explore Korean-American relations . . .

Conference to explore wide-ranging impact of parliamentary rule

Yale Press book co-authored by F&ES scholar . . .

Scholars explored the themes of tradition and modernity . . .

Improved relations

Campus Notes


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