Catalytic RNA Oligomers Formed by Co-Oligomerization of a Pair of Bimolecular RNase P Ribozymes

Abstract

Naturally occurring ribozymes with a modular architecture are promising platforms for construction of RNA nanostructures because modular redesign enables their oligomerization. The resulting RNA nanostructures can exhibit the catalytic function of the parent ribozyme in an assembly dependent manner. In this study, we designed and constructed open-form oligomers of a bimolecular form of an RNase P ribozyme. The ribozyme oligomers were analyzed biochemically and by atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Keywords

• ribonuclease P
• ribozyme
• RNA motif
• RNA nanostructure
• pre-tRNA processing