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 Concept Videos

Ribozymes02:47

Ribozymes

13.5K
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...
13.5K
Ribozymes02:47

Ribozymes

3.5K
3.5K
Transfer RNA Synthesis02:36

Transfer RNA Synthesis

13.4K
One of the unique features of tRNA is the presence of modified bases. In some tRNAs, modified bases account for nearly 20% of the total bases in the molecule. Altogether, these unusual bases protect the tRNA from enzymatic degradation by RNases.
Each of these chemical modifications is carried by a specific enzyme, post-transcription. All of these enzymes have unique base and site-specificity. Methylation, the most common chemical modification, is carried by at least nine different enzymes, with...
13.4K
Transfer RNA Synthesis02:35

Transfer RNA Synthesis

3.7K
3.7K
Ribosomal RNA Synthesis02:53

Ribosomal RNA Synthesis

14.9K
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.
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,...
14.9K
Ribosomal RNA Synthesis02:53

Ribosomal RNA Synthesis

4.4K
4.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Genome-wide screening reveals producer-cell modifications that improve virus-like particle production and delivery potency.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Analysis and control of untemplated DNA polymerase activity for guided synthesis of kilobase-scale DNA sequences.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Genome-wide screening reveals producer-cell modifications that improve virus-like particle production and delivery potency.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

A small polymerase ribozyme that can synthesize itself and its complementary strand.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same author

Prime editing-installed suppressor tRNAs for disease-agnostic genome editing.

Nature·2025
Same author

Roles of dimeric intermediates in RNA-catalyzed rolling circle synthesis.

Nucleic acids research·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Microfluidic Synthesis of Microgel Building Blocks for Microporous Annealed Particle Scaffold
09:34

Microfluidic Synthesis of Microgel Building Blocks for Microporous Annealed Particle Scaffold

Published on: June 16, 2022

3.9K

Ribozyme-catalysed RNA synthesis using triplet building blocks.

James Attwater1, Aditya Raguram1, Alexey S Morgunov1

  • 1MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Elife
|May 16, 2018
PubMed
Summary

This study introduces trinucleotide triphosphates (triplets) as novel substrates for RNA replication. These triplets enable RNA-catalyzed RNA synthesis on complex structures, overcoming a key challenge in primordial biology.

Keywords:
RNAbiochemistrychemical biologymolecular evolutionnoneorigins of liferibosomeribozyme

More Related Videos

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework
12:30

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework

Published on: April 9, 2018

9.6K
Triplet Fusion Upconversion Nanocapsule Synthesis
08:36

Triplet Fusion Upconversion Nanocapsule Synthesis

Published on: September 7, 2022

2.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Microfluidic Synthesis of Microgel Building Blocks for Microporous Annealed Particle Scaffold
09:34

Microfluidic Synthesis of Microgel Building Blocks for Microporous Annealed Particle Scaffold

Published on: June 16, 2022

3.9K
Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework
12:30

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework

Published on: April 9, 2018

9.6K
Triplet Fusion Upconversion Nanocapsule Synthesis
08:36

Triplet Fusion Upconversion Nanocapsule Synthesis

Published on: September 7, 2022

2.9K

Area of Science:

  • Origin of Life Studies
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • RNA-catalyzed RNA replication is a proposed mechanism for early life.
  • RNA folding can create structures that hinder its own replication, posing a paradox for RNA-based life.
  • Understanding RNA replication mechanisms is crucial for reconstructing early biological systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To resolve the paradox of RNA folding blocking RNA replication.
  • To explore alternative substrates for RNA-catalyzed RNA synthesis.
  • To investigate novel mechanisms for RNA replication in a prebiotic context.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro evolution to develop a triplet polymerase ribozyme.
  • Utilizing trinucleotide triphosphates (triplets) as substrates for RNA synthesis.
  • Investigating the ability of triplets to interact with and replicate structured RNA templates.

Main Results:

  • A novel, accurate triplet polymerase ribozyme was evolved.
  • Triplet substrates were shown to invade and unravel stable RNA secondary structures.
  • RNA synthesis and replication were supported in non-canonical, primer-free, and bidirectional modes.
  • The ribozyme synthesized its own catalytic subunits using triplet substrates.

Conclusions:

  • Trinucleotide triphosphates (triplets) overcome structural barriers in RNA replication.
  • This finding provides a potential solution to the RNA folding paradox in primordial RNA replication.
  • The evolved ribozyme demonstrates a self-replicating capability using triplet substrates, advancing our understanding of early RNA-based life.