The structure and function of catalytic RNAs

Abstract

Before the discovery of ribozymes, RNA had been proposed to function as a catalyst, based on the discovery that RNA folded into high-ordered structures as protein did. This hypothesis was confirmed in the 1980s, after the discovery of Tetrahymena group I intron and RNase P ribozyme. There have been about ten ribozymes identified during the past thirty years, as well as the fact that ribosomes function as ribozymes. Advances have been made in understanding the structures and functions of ribozymes, with numerous crystal structures resolved in the past years. Here we review the structure-function relationship of both small and large ribozymes, especially the structural basis of their catalysis. ribozyme, structure, catalysis.

Computational discovery and RT-PCR validation of novel Burkholderia conserved and Burkholderia pseudomallei unique sRNAs

“…Although sRNAs with catalytic functions have been reported [3,4], many of these molecules are known or believed to function as regulatory nucleic acid elements that target near, or at, the translation start site of their dedicated mRNA targets via imperfect sequence complementarity [5-7]. In E. coli , less than 100 sRNAs, accounting for ~0.3% of the genome, have been reported [8-10].…”

RNA dynamics: perspectives from spin labels

“…54, 55 They are found in a wide range of organisms, 56 and a variant of HHRz has recently been found embedded in mammalian mRNAs. 57 HHRz self-cleavage motifs consist of three A-form helices (stems) flanking a junction comprised of invariant or mostly conserved nucleotides.…”

“…57 HHRz self-cleavage motifs consist of three A-form helices (stems) flanking a junction comprised of invariant or mostly conserved nucleotides. 54, 55 SDSL studies on HHRz have been focused on probing RNA conformational dynamics that are associated with Mg 2+ ion binding.…”

Research frontiers highlighted in Science China Life Sciences in 2009

“…Review articles published in the March 2009 issue of Science China Life Sciences focused on this topic, covering the following aspects: roles of non-coding RNA in the acquisition of genomic imprinting in mammals [20], miRNA in cell differentiation and development [21], in plant development [22], in leukemia [23] and the diversity and evolution of miRNA gene clusters [24]. Also included in this special issue were review articles about the structure and function of catalytic RNAs [25], tRNAs as regulators of gene expression [26] and regulation of mammalian premRNA splicing [27]. These articles presented a comprehensive understanding of the functions of RNA molecules unveiled over the past two decades.…”