The origins of RNA catalysis in ribozymes
Abstract
The discovery of RNA catalysis provided a paradigm shift in biology, insight into the evolution of life on the planet and a challenge to understand its mechanistic origins. RNA has limited catalytic resources that must be used to maximal effect. Consequently, RNA catalysis tends to be multifactorial, with several processes contributing to an overall significant enhancement of reaction rate. These include general acid-base catalysis, electrostatic effects, and substrate orientation and proximity. The main players are the RNA nucleobases and bound metal ions. Although most ribozymes carry out phosphoryl transfer, the same considerations appear to apply to peptidyl transfer in the ribosome.
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RNA enzymes can catalyze a wide variety of reactions, encompassing all types of transformations necessary for protocell activity.
“The RNA enzymes can catalyze a wide variety of reactions, encompassing all types of transformations necessary for the protocell activity (Doherty and Doudna, 2001; Lilley, 2003).”
From The Astrobiology Primer v2.0 (2016) · cites this paper as Lilley, 2003
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References 46 · Cited by 113
- Authors
- Lilley, D. M. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Dundee (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Lilley, David M.J
- Venue
- Trends in Biochemical Sciences
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2003-09
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 495-501
- ISSN
- 0968-0004 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2007961337
- Cited by
- 113
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 5
- FWCI
- 0.86
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Trends in Biochemical Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Cancer Research UK (11722)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Chemical Reaction Mechanisms
- Keywords
- RNA catalysis, ribozymes, origin of life, general acid-base catalysis, electrostatic effects, substrate orientation, metal ions, nucleobases, phosphoryl transfer, peptidyl transfer, ribosome, catalytic mechanism
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Catalysis, Introns, Ions, Metals, Models, Molecular, Nucleic Acid Conformation, RNA, Catalytic
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