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Related Concept Videos

Ribosomal RNA Synthesis02:53

Ribosomal RNA Synthesis

Ribosome synthesis is a highly complex and coordinated process involving more than 200 assembly factors. The synthesis and processing of ribosomal components occurs not only in the nucleolus but also in the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells.
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Riboswitches are non-coding mRNA domains that regulate the transcription and translation of downstream genes without the help of proteins. Riboswitches bind directly to a metabolite and can form unique stem-loop or hairpin structures in response to the amount of the metabolite present. They have two distinct regions – a metabolite-binding aptamer and an expression platform.
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Ribozymes02:47

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The term ribozyme is used for RNA that can act as an enzyme. Ribozymes are mainly found in selected viruses, bacteria, plant organelles, and lower eukaryotes. Ribozymes were first discovered in 1982 when Tom Cech’s laboratory observed Group I introns acting as enzymes. This was shortly followed by the discovery of another ribozyme, Ribonulcease P, by Sid Altman’s laboratory. Both Cech and Altman received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1989 for their work on ribozymes.
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The MultiBac Protein Complex Production Platform at the EMBL
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Ribozymes--why so many, why so few?

F J Schmidt1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri-Columbia, 65212, USA. schmidtf@missouri.edu

Molecules and Cells
|December 22, 1999
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The RNA world hypothesis suggests RNA catalyzed reactions. While RNA catalysts (ribozymes) are selected via SELEX, their large size poses a synthesis challenge. Small ribozymes may be enhanced by trans-acting RNAs.

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Area of Science:

  • Origin of life studies
  • Molecular evolution
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The RNA world hypothesis proposes ancient RNA molecules served as both genetic material and catalysts.
  • SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) has successfully identified numerous RNA catalysts (ribozymes).
  • A key challenge is understanding the prebiotic synthesis of long RNA molecules selected by SELEX.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To address the challenge of synthesizing long RNA catalysts in the context of the RNA world.
  • To investigate mechanisms that could enhance the efficiency of smaller, potentially more easily synthesized ribozymes.
  • To explore the role of auxiliary RNAs in early genetic and catalytic networks.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on RNA catalysis and SELEX.
  • Theoretical modeling of RNA-RNA interactions and catalytic augmentation.
  • Analysis of proposed RNA world scenarios and primitive replicator models.

Main Results:

  • SELEX has validated the catalytic potential of RNA, but often yields long RNA molecules.
  • The synthesis of these long RNAs by primitive replicators presents a significant hurdle for the RNA world model.
  • A proposed solution involves smaller ribozymes whose efficiency is boosted by other RNAs acting as transactivators.

Conclusions:

  • While SELEX confirms RNA's catalytic capabilities, the size of selected ribozymes challenges early RNA synthesis models.
  • The concept of RNA transactivators offers a plausible mechanism to overcome the limitations of small ribozyme size and enhance catalytic networks.
  • This highlights the potential complexity of early RNA-based life, involving interactions between multiple RNA molecules.