The chemical repertoire of natural ribozymes.
Although RNA is generally thought to be a passive genetic blueprint, some RNA molecules, called ribozymes, have intrinsic enzyme-like activity--they can catalyse chemical reactions in the complete absence of protein cofactors. In addition to the well-known small ribozymes that cleave phosphodiester bonds, we now know that RNA catalysts probably effect a number of key cellular reactions. This versatility has lent credence to the idea that RNA molecules may have been central to the early stages of life on Earth.
Doudna
Jennifer A
JA
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA. doudna@uclink.berkeley.edu
Cech
Thomas R
TR
D000818:Animals; D002384:Catalysis; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000235:genetics; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D043262:Ribonuclease P; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013379:Substrate Specificity
D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; C427204:hammerhead ribozyme; D004722:Endoribonucleases; C468368:RPP14 protein, human; D043262:Ribonuclease P