Abstract
Certain intervening sequence (IVS) RNAs catalyse their own excision from a primary transcript to yield mature RNA in a reaction termed self-splicing1–4. These Group I IVS RNAs contain several conserved sequences and possess a common secondary structure5,7. The Tetrahymena precursor ribosomal RNA possesses an IVS of this group that is known to self-splice in vitro. The nature of this IVS is of great interest to both biology and chemistry, because understanding its catalytic activity should shed new light on the function of RNA in biological systems and the evolution of RNA which might be relevant to the early stages of life on Earth8,9. We have analysed the minimum requirement for this reaction as one approach to understanding the mechanism of this RNA catalysis. We now show that a fragment of the IVS RNA of Tetrahymena can mediate a simple transesterification reaction between the substrate GpN (where N is A, C, G or U) and the nucleophile CpU. This newly discovered reaction and its reverse reaction represent the fundamental catalytic activity of the self-splicing Group I IVSs.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
1. Zaug, A. J., Grabowski, P. J. & Cech, T. R. Nature 301, 578–583 (1983). 2. Garriga, G. & Lambowitz, A. M. Cell 38, 631–641 (1984). 3. Horst, G. v. d. & Tabak, H. F. Cell 40, 759–766 (1985). 4. Chu, F. K., Maley, G. F., West, D. K., Belfort, M. & Maley, F. Cell 45, 157–166 (1986). 5. Davies, R. W., Waring, R. B., Ray, J. A., Brown, T. A. & Scazzochio, C. Nature 300,719–724 (1982). 6. Waring, R. B. & Davies, R. W. Gene 28, 277–291 (1984). 7. Michel, F. & Dujon, B. EMBO J. 2, 33–38 (1983). 8. Cech, T. R. Sci. Am. 255, 64–75 (1986). 9. Orgel, L. E. J. theor. Biol 123, 127–149 (1986). 10. Zaug, A. J. & Cech, T. R. Science 231, 470–475 (1986). 11. Zaug, A. J. & Cech, T. R. Biochemistry 25, 4478–4482 (1986). 12. Zaug, A. J., Been, M. D. & Cech, T. R. Nature 324, 429–433 (1986). 13. Bass, B. L. & Cech, T. R. Nature 308, 820–826 (1984). 14. Inoue, T., Sullivan, F. X. & Cech, T. R. J. molec. Biol. 189, 143–165 (1986). 15. Kay, P. S. & Inoue, T. Nucleic Acids Res. 15, 1559–1577 (1987). 16. Inoue, T–, Sullivan, F. X. & Cech, T. R. Cell 43, 431–437 (1985). 17. Tanner, N. K. & Cech, T. R. Biochemistry (in the press). 18. Bass, B. L. & Cech, T. R. Biochemistry 25, 4473–4477 (1986). 19. Waring, R. B., Towner, P., Minter, S. J. & Davies, R. W. Nature 321, 133–139 (1986). 20. Been, M. D. & Cech, T. R. Cell 47, 207–216 (1986). 21. Garriga, G., Lambowitz, A. M., Inoue, T. & Cech, T. R. Nature 322, 86–89 (1986). 22. Donis–Keller, H., Maxam, A. M. & Gilbert, W. Nucleic Acids Res. 4, 2527–2538 (1977). 23. England, T. E. & Uhlenbeck, O. C. Nature 275, 560–561 (1978).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kay, P., Inoue, T. Catalysis of splicing-related reactions between dinucleotides by a ribozyme. Nature 327, 343–346 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/327343a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/327343a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Self-Splicing and Enzymatic Activity of an Intervening Sequence RNA from Tetrahymena
Bioscience Reports (2004)
-
Selection in vitro of an RNA enzyme that specifically cleaves single-stranded DNA
Nature (1990)
-
Self-splicing and enzymatic activity of an intervening sequence RNA from Tetrahymena
Bioscience Reports (1990)
-
The guanosine binding site of the Tetrahymena ribozyme
Nature (1989)
-
Ribozyme self-replication?
Nature (1989)