Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 27, 2026

A Rapid High-throughput Method for Mapping Ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) on Human pre-mRNA
Published on: December 2, 2009
A small nucleolar RNA:ribozyme hybrid cleaves a nucleolar RNA target in vivo with near-perfect efficiency
D A Samarsky1, G Ferbeyre, E Bertrand
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
Abstract:
A hammerhead ribozyme has been localized to the yeast nucleolus by using the U3 small nucleolar RNA as a carrier. The hybrid small nucleolar RNA:ribozyme, designated a "snorbozyme," is metabolically stable and cleaves a target U3 RNA with nearly 100% efficiency in vivo. This is the most efficient in vivo cleavage reported for a trans-acting ribozyme. A key advantage of the model substrate featured is that a stable, trimmed cleavage product accumulates. This property allows accurate kinetic measurements of authentic cleavage in vivo. The system offers new avenues for developing effective ribozymes for research and therapeutic applications.
Related Concept Videos
RNA Interference
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
Ribosomal RNA Synthesis
Ribosome biogenesis begins with the synthesis of 5S and 45S pre-rRNAs by distinct RNA polymerases. The primary transcripts are extensively processed and modified before they are bound and folded by ribosomal proteins and assembly factors,...
RNA Interference
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
Ribozymes
Ribozymes can be...
Experimental RNAi
Ribozymes
Ribozymes can be...

