The Structural Basis of Ribozyme-Catalyzed RNA Assembly
| Main Authors: | Robertson, Michael P., Scott, William G. |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article Journal |
| Terbitan: |
, 2007
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| Online Access: |
https://zenodo.org/record/894514 |
Daftar Isi:
- Life originated, according to the RNA World hypothesis, from self-replicating ribozymes that catalyzed ligation of RNA fragments. We have solved the 2.6 angstrom crystal structure of a ligase ribozyme that catalyzes regiospecific formation of a 5' to 3' phosphodiester bond between the 5'-triphosphate and the 3'-hydroxyl termini of two RNA fragments. Invariant residues form tertiary contacts that stabilize a flexible stem of the ribozyme at the ligation site, where an essential magnesium ion coordinates three phosphates. The structure of the active site permits us to suggest how transition-state stabilization and a general base may catalyze the ligation reaction required for prebiotic RNA assembly.