title: Model systems: how chemical biologists study RNA.
abstract: Ribonucleic acids are structurally and functionally sophisticated biomolecules and the use of models, frequently truncated or modified sequences representing functional domains of the natural systems, is essential to their exploration. Functional noncoding RNAs such as miRNAs, riboswitches, and, in particular, ribozymes, have changed the view of RNA's role in biology and its catalytic potential. The well-known truncated hammerhead model has recently been refined and new data provide a clearer molecular picture of the elements responsible for its catalytic power. A model for the spliceosome, a massive and highly intricate ribonucleoprotein, is also emerging, although its true utility is yet to be cemented. Such catalytic model systems could also serve as 'chemo-paleontological' tools, further refining the RNA world hypothesis and its relevance to the origin and evolution of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0358, USA.
authors.forename: Andro C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rios
authors.forename: Yitzhak
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001695:Biology / Q000379:methods*; D019418:Evolution, Chemical; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017381:Spliceosomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; C427204:hammerhead ribozyme; D012313:RNA