title: RNA cleavage by small catalytic RNAs.
abstract: Recent studies of the hammerhead ribozyme have provided an insight into its three-dimensional structure. In addition, studies using chemical probes, functional-group modification and mutational analysis, in combination with computer modelling, have led to proposals for the structure of both the hairpin and hepatitis delta virus ribozymes. Such structural elucidations will aid understanding of the mechanism of ribozyme catalysis. The discovery that certain RNA-binding proteins can increase the catalytic efficiency of ribozymes in encouraging for their use in the inhibition of gene expression in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für experimentelle Medizin, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tuschl
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eckstein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015394:Molecular Structure; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D012313:RNA