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Ribozymes02:47

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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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RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
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Growth, Dissolution and Segregation of Genetically Encoded RNA Droplets by Ribozyme Catalysis.

Franziska Giessler1, William Verstraeten1, Tobias Abele1

  • 1Biophysical Engineering Group, Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|January 7, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers created active RNA droplets that can dissolve and regrow, controlled by genetic information. This breakthrough enables programmable, evolvable materials and advances synthetic cell construction.

Keywords:
Active dropletLiquid–liquid phase separationRNA nanotechnologyRibozyme catalysisSynthetic cells

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Area of Science:

  • * Synthetic Biology
  • * Biophysics
  • * Materials Science

Background:

  • * Active droplets, membraneless compartments, are key models for early life and synthetic cells.
  • * Programming dynamic behaviors with genetic information is crucial for evolvable systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To engineer transiently active RNA droplets with sequence-programmable dynamics.
  • * To establish a genetically encoded life cycle for synthetic protocells.
  • * To develop methods for observing and controlling droplet behavior over time.

Main Methods:

  • * Integrating ribozyme catalysis sites into RNA nanostar sequences for self-assembly.
  • * Trapping individual droplets in hydrogel cages via in situ photopolymerization for observation.
  • * Utilizing different ribozymes (hammerhead, hairpin) to control degradation kinetics.
  • * Employing sequence-specific RNA cleavage to trigger droplet segregation.
  • * Encapsulating DNA templates for droplet regrowth.

Main Results:

  • * Successfully created transiently active RNA droplets with sequence-controlled dissolution.
  • * Demonstrated programmable degradation rates using hammerhead (fast) and hairpin (slow) ribozymes.
  • * Achieved segregation of mixed droplet populations through sequence-specific cleavage.
  • * Established a proof-of-principle for a minimal, genetically encoded cycle of droplet dissolution and regrowth.
  • * Linked RNA sequence directly to droplet stability, composition, and life-cycle dynamics.

Conclusions:

  • * Developed a robust platform for engineering evolvable materials.
  • * Advanced the bottom-up construction of synthetic cells with programmable life cycles.
  • * Demonstrated the potential for genetic information to control the behavior of active droplets.