title: Ribozymes: biology, biochemistry, and implications for clinical medicine.
abstract: Ribozymes are a class of ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules that possess enzymatic properties. Upon binding to complementary nucleic acid strands, catalytic degradation takes place via a cleavage reaction. In effect, inactivation of susceptible substrate RNA molecules takes place at a catalytic rate and with a high degree of substrate specificity. This article reviews the biology and biochemistry of this class of molecules and its potential applications in clinical medicine.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Rudolf Virchow, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiehntopf
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Esquivel
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brach
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Herrmann
mesh_terms: D015316:Genetic Therapy; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D016337:RNA, Catalytic