Ribozyme-based gene-inactivation systems require a fine comprehension of their substrate specificities; the case of delta ribozyme.
The ability of ribozymes (i.e. RNA enzymes) to specifically recognize and subsequently catalyze the cleavage of an RNA substrate makes them attractive for the development of therapeutic tools for the inactivation of both viral RNAs and mRNAs associated with various diseases. Several applicable ribozyme models have been tested both in vitro and in a cellular environment, and have shown significant promise. However, several hurdles remain to be surpassed before we generate a useful gene-inactivation system based on a ribozyme. Among the most important requirements for further progress are a better understanding of the features that contribute to defining the substrate specificity for cleavage by a ribozyme, and the identification of the potential cleavage sites in a given target RNA. The goal of this review is to illustrate the importance of both of these factors at the RNA level in the development of any type of ribozyme based gene-therapy. This is achieved by reviewing the recent progress in both the structure-function relationships and the development of a gene-inactivation system of a model ribozyme, specifically delta ribozyme.
Bergeron
Lucien Junior
LJ
RNA Group/Groupe ARN, Département de Biochimie, Faculté de médecine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1H 5N4, Canada.
Ouellet
Jonathan
J
Perreault
Jean-Pierre
JP
D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D020868:Gene Silencing; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013379:Substrate Specificity
D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral