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Science 11 August 2000:
Vol. 289. no. 5481, pp. 878 - 879
DOI: 10.1126/science.289.5481.878
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Perspectives

Also see the archival list of Science's Compass: Enhanced Perspectives

STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY:
Enhanced: The Ribosome Is a Ribozyme

Thomas R. Cech

Ribosomes, the cellular factories that manufacture proteins, contain both RNA and protein, but exactly how all of the different ribosomal components contribute to protein synthesis is still not clear. Now, as Thomas Cech explains in his Perspective, atomic resolution of the structure of the large ribosomal subunit reveals that, as predicted by those convinced of a prebiotic RNA world, RNA is the catalytic component with proteins being the structural units that support and stabilize it (Ban et al., Nissen et al., Muth et al.).

The author is at The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 4000 Jones Bridge Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815-6789, USA. E-mail: thomas.cech{at}colorado.edu

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Functional interaction between bases C1049 in domain II and G2751 in domain VI of 23S rRNA in Escherichia coli ribosomes.
T. Miyoshi and T. Uchiumi (2008)
Nucleic Acids Res. 36, 1783-1791
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Human ribosomal protein L13a is dispensable for canonical ribosome function but indispensable for efficient rRNA methylation.
S. Chaudhuri, K. Vyas, P. Kapasi, A. A. Komar, J. D. Dinman, S. Barik, and B. Mazumder (2007)
RNA 13, 2224-2237
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
In vitro selection, characterization, and application of deoxyribozymes that cleave RNA.
S. K. Silverman (2005)
Nucleic Acids Res. 33, 6151-6163
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Importance in catalysis of a magnesium ion with very low affinity for a hammerhead ribozyme.
A. Inoue, Y. Takagi, and K. Taira (2004)
Nucleic Acids Res. 32, 4217-4223
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A New Biology for a New Century.
C. R. Woese (2004)
Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 68, 173-186
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A Dispensable Yeast Ribosomal Protein Optimizes Peptidyltransferase Activity and Affects Translocation.
J. Dresios, P. Panopoulos, K. Suzuki, and D. Synetos (2003)
J. Biol. Chem. 278, 3314-3322
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Pentamidine inhibits catalytic activity of group I intron Ca.LSU by altering RNA folding.
Y. Zhang, Z. Li, D. S. Pilch, and M. J. Leibowitz (2002)
Nucleic Acids Res. 30, 2961-2971
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
On the evolution of cells.
C. R. Woese (2002)
PNAS 99, 8742-8747
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Existence of efficient divalent metal ion-catalyzed and inefficient divalent metal ion-independent channels in reactions catalyzed by a hammerhead ribozyme.
J.-M. Zhou, D.-M. Zhou, Y. Takagi, Y. Kasai, A. Inoue, T. Baba, and K. Taira (2002)
Nucleic Acids Res. 30, 2374-2382
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A functional chaperone triad on the yeast ribosome.
M. Gautschi, A. Mun, S. Ross, and S. Rospert (2002)
PNAS 99, 4209-4214
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Effects of base change mutations within an Escherichia coli ribosomal RNA leader region on rRNA maturation and ribosome formation.
J. Schaferkordt and R. Wagner (2001)
Nucleic Acids Res. 29, 3394-3403
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
SURVEY AND SUMMARY: Recent advances in the elucidation of the mechanisms of action of ribozymes.
Y. Takagi, M. Warashina, W. J. Stec, K. Yoshinari, and K. Taira (2001)
Nucleic Acids Res. 29, 1815-1834
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)