Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Focus on function: single molecule RNA enzymology.

Mark A Ditzler1, Elvin A Alemán, David Rueda

  • 1Biophysics Research Division, Single Molecule Analysis Group, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.

Biopolymers
|August 10, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

FINDER converts zero-background kinetic fingerprinting into area-scalable attomolar biomarker detection.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

ASPL-driven subunit exchange remodels VCP/p97 hexamers and is impaired by a multisystem proteinopathy mutation.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Npl4 decodes polyubiquitin length and gates D1-D2 coupling in human VCP/p97.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Localized ribosome access and distal tuning via the <i>Listeria prfA</i> RNA thermometer.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Single-molecule microscopy of biomolecular condensates: From liquid droplets to heterogeneous networks.

Current opinion in structural biology·2026
Same author

A leader-repeat hairpin blocks extraneous CRISPR RNA production in diverse CRISPR-Cas13 systems.

The EMBO journal·2026
Same journal

Untreated Rosehip Powder/Poly(Lactic Acid)/Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-Co-4-Hydroxybutyrate) Electrospun Mats for Wound Dressing Applications.

Biopolymers·2026
Same journal

Synthesis, Characterization, and Antidiabetic Evaluation of Sequence-Modified Liraglutide Analogs in a Drosophila melanogaster Model.

Biopolymers·2026
Same journal

Fabrication of an Antibacterial Alginate/Chitosan Hydrogel Dressing Loaded With CuO Nanoparticles for Wound Dressing Applications.

Biopolymers·2026
Same journal

Effect of Chitosan-Alginate Polyelectrolyte Complex Formation and Multilayer Polymer Configuration on the Characteristics of 3D-Printed Metronidazole-Loaded Periodontal Films.

Biopolymers·2026
Same journal

Phenolic Grafting of Oxidized Cellulose Nanofibers Using Ferulic Acid: Structural and Antioxidant Analysis Toward Bioactive Nanomaterials.

Biopolymers·2026
Same journal

Detection of a Target Nucleic Acid by Ligation-Assisted Fluorescence Enhancement of a Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) Twin Probe via Disulfide Binding.

Biopolymers·2026
See all related articles

RNA enzymes, or ribozymes, catalyze reactions. Single-molecule studies reveal complex kinetics and heterogeneity, but fundamental questions about RNA catalysis at the molecular level persist.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • RNA Biology

Background:

  • RNA molecules, known as ribozymes, possess catalytic activity, a property first observed 25 years ago with group I introns and RNase P.
  • Subsequent discoveries, including the ribosome, have expanded the known repertoire of ribozymes, prompting extensive mechanistic investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of RNA catalysis at the single-molecule level.
  • To highlight the advancements and limitations of single-molecule techniques in studying ribozymes.
  • To identify unresolved questions and future opportunities in RNA enzyme research.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on ribozyme mechanisms.
  • Analysis of studies employing single-molecule approaches to investigate ribozyme kinetics.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Discussion of ensemble versus single-molecule methodologies.

    • Main Results:

    • Single-molecule tools provide high-resolution kinetic data for ribozymes, revealing heterogeneity not seen in ensemble studies.
    • These advanced techniques have dissected the catalytic steps of various ribozymes in unprecedented detail.
    • Despite progress, fundamental mechanistic questions regarding RNA enzyme function remain.

    Conclusions:

    • Single-molecule enzymology offers powerful insights into the molecular mechanisms of RNA catalysis.
    • Heterogeneity in ribozyme activity is a significant feature that requires further investigation.
    • Developing new assays is crucial for addressing the remaining challenges in understanding RNA enzymes.