title: Group II Intron Self-Splicing.
abstract: Group II introns are large, autocatalytic ribozymes that catalyze RNA splicing and retrotransposition. Splicing by group II introns plays a major role in the metabolism of plants, fungi, and yeast and contributes to genetic variation in many bacteria. Group II introns have played a major role in genome evolution, as they are likely progenitors of spliceosomal introns, retroelements, and other machinery that controls genetic variation and stability. The structure and catalytic mechanism of group II introns have recently been elucidated through a combination of genetics, chemical biology, solution biochemistry, and crystallography. These studies reveal a dynamic machine that cycles progressively through multiple conformations as it stimulates the various stages of splicing. A central active site, containing a reactive metal ion cluster, catalyzes both steps of self-splicing. These studies provide insights into RNA structure, folding, and catalysis, as they raise new questions about the behavior of RNA machines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New Haven, Connecticut 06520.|Department of Chemistry, Yale University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New Haven, Connecticut 06520; email: anna.pyle@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Anna Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pyle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics*; D012326:RNA Splicing; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000235:genetics; D018626:Retroelements
chemical_list: D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D018626:Retroelements; D012313:RNA
keywords: RNA catalysis; RNA folding; RNA splicing; enzyme mechanism; retrotransposition; ribozyme