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A natural ribozyme with 3',5' RNA ligase activity
Quentin Vicens1, Thomas R Cech
1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, UCB 215, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0215, USA. quentin.vicens@colorado.edu
Nature Chemical Biology
|January 7, 2009
Summary
This study shows a cyanobacterial ribozyme forms circular RNA using triphosphate nucleotides, similar to protein polymerases. This circular RNA incorporates a guanosine cofactor, with implications for early life and modern biology.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- RNA Catalysis
Background:
- Group I introns are catalytic RNA molecules.
- Cyanobacteria possess unique genetic elements.
- Ribozymes can perform enzymatic functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the catalytic mechanism of a group I intron from Anabaena sp. PCC 7120.
- To characterize the products of its self-splicing reaction.
- To explore the implications for RNA world hypotheses and modern biological processes.
Main Methods:
- Electrophoresis for RNA separation and analysis.
- DNA/RNA sequencing for product identification.
- Enzymatic digestion to analyze RNA structure.
Main Results:
- The ribozyme catalyzes phosphodiester bond formation using 5'-terminal triphosphate nucleotides.
- A unique circular RNA molecule is formed during self-splicing.
- The circular RNA incorporates an exogenous guanosine cofactor.
Conclusions:
- This ribozyme exhibits polymerase-like activity.
- The formation of circular RNA with cofactor incorporation is a novel finding.
- Results suggest potential roles in prebiotic RNA world and modern RNA functions.
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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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02:47Ribozymes
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.
Ribozymes can be...
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