Ribozyme

Ribozymes (ribonucleic acid enzymes) are <a href="/facts/RNA/HxPeNfNj">RNA</a> molecules that have the ability to <a href="/facts/Catalysis/LPBS7TQC">catalyze</a> specific biochemical reactions, including <a href="/facts/RNA_splicing/a2QEvCRI">RNA splicing</a> in <a href="/facts/Gene_expression/alCPohLR">gene expression</a>, similar to the action of protein <a href="/facts/Enzymes/DSI1Fh7y">enzymes</a>. The 1982 discovery of ribozymes demonstrated that RNA can be both genetic material (like <a href="/facts/DNA/nB89Iauz">DNA</a>) and a biological catalyst (like protein enzymes), and contributed to the <a href="/facts/RNA_world_hypothesis/o9qmTdd1">RNA world hypothesis</a>, which suggests that RNA may have been important in the evolution of prebiotic <a href="/facts/Self-replicating/NbsfzT4l">self-replicating</a> systems.
The most common activities of natural or <a href="/facts/Directed_evolution/DYJs0Hm2">in vitro evolved</a> ribozymes are the cleavage (or <a href="/facts/Ligation_(molecular_biology)/dX7fBXQD">ligation</a>) of RNA and DNA and peptide bond formation. For example, the smallest ribozyme known (GUGGC-3') can aminoacylate a GCCU-3' sequence in the presence of PheAMP. Within the <a href="/facts/Ribosome/CF2u2gtg">ribosome</a>, ribozymes function as part of the large subunit ribosomal RNA to link amino acids during <a href="/facts/Translation_(biology)/JcPC1rth">protein synthesis</a>. They also participate in a variety of <a href="/facts/RNA_processing/Hp9Ww9Nk">RNA processing</a> reactions, including <a href="/facts/RNA_splicing/a2QEvCRI">RNA splicing</a>, <a href="/facts/Viral_replication/btE3fu1w">viral replication</a>, and <a href="/facts/Transfer_RNA/pR9T5XSl">transfer RNA</a> biosynthesis. Examples of ribozymes include the <a href="/facts/Hammerhead_ribozyme/dEu2JVxx">hammerhead ribozyme</a>, the <a href="/facts/VS_ribozyme/DI4vUN0q">VS ribozyme</a>, <a href="/facts/Leadzyme/LX4CKvQt">leadzyme</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Hairpin_ribozyme/T9RV0gct">hairpin ribozyme</a>.
Researchers who are investigating the <a href="/facts/Origins_of_life/BvAmLPQP">origins of life</a> through the RNA world hypothesis have been working on discovering a ribozyme with the capacity to self-replicate, which would require it to have the ability to catalytically synthesize polymers of RNA. This should be able to happen in prebiotically plausible conditions with high rates of copying accuracy to prevent degradation of information but also allowing for the occurrence of occasional errors during the copying process to allow for <a href="/facts/History_of_evolutionary_thought/Ah1RKqf0">Darwinian evolution</a> to proceed.
Attempts have been made to develop ribozymes as therapeutic agents, as enzymes which target defined RNA sequences for cleavage, as <a href="/facts/Biosensor/MaUAS0gD">biosensors</a>, and for applications in <a href="/facts/Functional_genomics/mtKeSgSs">functional genomics</a> and gene discovery.

Ribozyme open-in-new

Ribozyme