title: Nucleic acid enzymes.
abstract: Since the discovery of the first natural ribozyme more than 20 years ago, it has become clear that nucleic acids are not only the static depository of genetic information, but also possess intriguing catalytic activity. The number of reactions catalyzed by engineered nucleic acid enzymes is growing continuously. The versatility of these catalysts supports the idea of an ancestral world based on RNA predating the emergence of proteins, and also drives many studies towards practical applications for nucleic acid enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fiammengo
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jäschke
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D021881:DNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D019020:Directed Molecular Evolution; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D021881:DNA, Catalytic; D016337:RNA, Catalytic