VS ribozyme

The Varkud satellite (VS) ribozyme is an RNA enzyme that carries out the cleavage of a phosphodiester bond.[1][2]

Structure

The VS ribozyme is composed of 5 helices that form an H shape (helices II to VI). The first helix (I) contains the substrate cleavage site in the stem-loop.

The activity of the VS ribozyme is thought to require a long range pseudoknot structure.[3]

Species distribution

The VS ribozyme has only been found in mitochondrial DNA of Neurospora.

References

  1. ^ Saville BJ, Collins RA (1990). "A site-specific self-cleavage reaction performed by a novel RNA in Neurospora ribozymes". Cell 61 (4): 685–696. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(90)90480-3. PMID 2160856. 
  2. ^ Lilley DM (February 2004). "The Varkud satellite ribozyme". RNA 10 (2): 151–8. doi:10.1261/rna.5217104. PMC 1370526. PMID 14730013. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1370526. 
  3. ^ Rastogi, T; T L Beattie, J E Olive, and R A Collins (1996). "A long-range pseudoknot is required for activity of the Neurospora VS ribozyme.". EMBO J 15 (11) (11): 2820–25. PMC 450219. PMID 8654379. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=450219.