title: RNA self-ligation: from oligonucleotides to full length ribozymes.
abstract: The RNA-world-theory is one possible explanation of how life on earth has evolved. In this context it is of high interest to search for molecular systems, capable of self-organization into structures with increasing complexity. We have engineered a simple catalytic system in which two short RNA molecules can catalyze their own ligation to form a larger RNA construct. The system is based on the hairpin ribozyme using a 2',3'-cyclophosphate as activated species for ligation. 2',3'-cyclic phosphates can be easily formed and occur in many natural systems, thus being superior candidates for activated building blocks in RNA world scenarios.
authors.affiliation: Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität Greifswald, Institut für Biochemie, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 4, 17487 Greifswald, Germany. slawomir.gwiazda@rub.de
authors.forename: Slawomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gwiazda
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Appel
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D055162:Biocatalysis; D019295:Computational Biology; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009843:Oligoribonucleotides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D058105:Polymerization; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D009843:Oligoribonucleotides; D010710:Phosphates; D016337:RNA, Catalytic