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Ribozymes

Ribozymes

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...

Restriction Enzymes

Restriction Enzymes

Restriction enzymes are bacterial enzymes used to cut DNA in a sequence-specific manner. To cleave DNA, they bind to specific palindromic sequences called restriction sites. Such palindromic DNA sequences or inverted repeats are commonly found in regions of functional significance, such as the origin of replication, gene operator sites, and regions containing transcription termination signals.
The host bacteria protect their own genomic DNA from these enzymes by methylating these sites. Some...

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Related Experiment Video

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Author Spotlight: Characterizing Novel Enzymes from Extremophiles and Common Pathogens to Understand DNA Repair and Replication

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Nano-RNases: oligo- or dinucleases?

Vincent T Lee¹, Holger Sondermann², Wade C Winkler¹

¹Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 United States.

FEMS Microbiology Reviews

|August 26, 2022

Summary

Oligoribonuclease (Orn) and nanoRNases (nrn) are essential enzymes that break down diribonucleotides into mononucleotides. These enzymes are crucial for cellular function and managing RNA turnover.

Keywords:

NanoRNases RNA degradation diribonuclease diribonucleotides oligoribonuclease

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Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Enzymology

Background:

Diribonucleotides originate from RNA turnover and cyclic dinucleotide signaling.
Dedicated enzymes are required to cleave diribonucleotides into mononucleotides.

Approach:

This review synthesizes historical and recent findings on diribonucleotide-cleaving enzymes.
Focuses on enzyme discovery, structures, activities, and physiological roles.

Key Points:

Oligoribonuclease (Orn) from E. coli is the first discovered enzyme and an essential exoribonuclease.
Organisms lacking Orn utilize nanoRNases (nrn) to fulfill this essential function.
Enzymes are characterized by their structural features and substrate specificity.

Conclusions:

Understanding diribonucleotide metabolism and the enzymes involved is critical.
Further research is needed to address outstanding biological questions regarding these enzymes and their substrates.