Comparative Enzymology and Structural Biology of RNA Self-Cleavage

摘要: Self-cleaving hammerhead, hairpin, hepatitis delta virus, and glmS ribozymes comprise a family of small catalytic RNA motifs that catalyze the same reversible phosphodiester cleavage reaction, but each motif adopts unique structure displays array biochemical properties. Recent structural, biochemical, biophysical studies these self-cleaving RNAs have begun to reveal how active site nucleotides exploit general acid-base catalysis, electrostatic stabilization, substrate destabilization, positioning orientation reduce free energy barrier catalysis. Insights into variety strategies available model enzymes are likely important implications for understanding more complex RNA-catalyzed reactions fundamental processing protein synthesis.