title: Cis- and trans-acting ribozymes from a human pathogen, hepatitis delta virus.
abstract: Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) contains two self-cleaving RNA sequences (ribozymes) that may naturally function as such in human cells. A pseudo-knot-containing structural motif, which is distinct from the well-characterized secondary structures of self-cleaving RNAs common to the plant pathogenic RNAs, is shared by the cis-acting HDV ribozymes. Definition of the sequences and secondary structures of the HDV ribozymes has facilitated the design of novel catalytic molecules, such as small RNA circles, capable of site-specific cleavage of RNA in trans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Been
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000382:microbiology; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010942:Plant Viruses / Q000235:genetics; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry*; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D012367:RNA, Viral