Ribozyme catalysis revisited: is water involved?
Enzymatic catalysis by RNA was discovered 25 years ago, yet mechanistic insights are emerging only slowly. Thought to be metalloenzymes at first, some ribozymes proved more versatile than anticipated when shown to utilize their own functional groups for catalysis. Recent evidence suggests that some may also judiciously place structural water molecules to shuttle protons in acid-base catalyzed reactions.
Walter
Nils G
NG
Department of Chemistry, Single Molecule Analysis Group, University of Michigan, 930 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48019-1055, USA. nwalter@umich.edu
D002384:Catalysis; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011522:Protons; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
D011522:Protons; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D014867:Water; D012313:RNA