RNA vs protein

The results are in: sxy transcript levels vary much less dramatically between mutants and between growth conditions than do Sxy protein levels. This suggests that RNA secondary structure has it's greatest effect post-transcriptionally by influencing translation.

Yesterday's real time pcr experiment gave nice results consistent both with expectations (ie. more RNA in hypercompetent mutants and less in "hypocompetent" mutants) and with microarray results (ie. RNA levels increase in WT cells as cell growth slows at the onset of stationary phase). Today I have been crunching yesterday's RNA results, reanalyzing old protein data, and learning to use the new fluorescence scanner in our department (which will be used this week for western blot detection). Tomorrow I start the latest round of western blots, and then some beautiful gel pictures for our manuscript.