Macromolecular mimicry

Some proteins have been shown to mimic the overall shape and structure of nucleic acids. For some of the proteins involved in translating the genetic information into proteins on the ribosome particle, there are indications that such observations of macromolecular mimicry even extend to similarity in interaction with and function on the ribosome. A small number of structural results obtained outside the protein biosynthesis machinery could indicate that the concept of macromolecular mimicry between proteins and nucleic acids is more general. The implications for the function and evolution of protein biosynthesis are discussed.