Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026

RNA Catalyst as a Reporter for Screening Drugs against RNA Editing in Trypanosomes
Published on: July 22, 2014
The Small Ribozymes: Common and Diverse Features Observed through the FRET Lens
Nils G Walter1, Shiamalee Perumal
1Department of Chemistry, Single Molecule Analysis Group, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.
Abstract:
The hammerhead, hairpin, HDV, VS and glmS ribozymes are the five known, naturally occurring catalytic RNAs classified as the "small ribozymes". They share common reaction chemistry in cleaving their own backbone by phosphodiester transfer, but are diverse in their secondary and tertiary structures, indicating that Nature has found at least five independent solutions to a common chemical task. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) has been extensively used to detect conformational changes in these ribozymes and dissect their reaction pathways. Common and diverse features are beginning to emerge that, by extension, highlight general biophysical properties of non-protein coding RNAs.
Related Concept Videos
Ribozymes
Ribozymes can be...
Ribozymes
Ribozymes can be...
Ribosome Profiling
Applications of ribosome profiling
Ribosome profiling has many applications, including in vivo monitoring of translation inside a particular organ or tissue type and quantifying new protein synthesis levels.
The technique helps...
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,...
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,...
Riboswitches
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...

