Ribosüüme

Ribosüüme are RNA molecules that possess catalytic activity. Unlike proteins, which are the most common biological catalysts (enzymes), ribosüüme are made of ribonucleic acid. The discovery of ribosüüme in the early 1980s revolutionized our understanding of molecular biology, as it demonstrated that RNA could play both genetic and enzymatic roles. This led to the concept of the "RNA world" hypothesis, which proposes that early life on Earth may have been based on RNA before the evolution of DNA and proteins.

Ribosüüme are found in various biological processes. For example, ribosomal RNA (rRNA) within ribosomes is responsible for catalyzing the formation of peptide bonds during protein synthesis. Other ribosüüme are involved in RNA splicing, a process where non-coding regions (introns) are removed from precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA). Some viruses also utilize ribosüüme for their replication.

The catalytic mechanism of ribosüüme often involves the precise positioning of reacting groups and the stabilization of transition states, similar to protein enzymes. The specific three-dimensional structure of the RNA molecule is crucial for its catalytic function. Research into ribosüüme continues to expand, with efforts to discover new ribosüüme, understand their mechanisms of action, and explore their potential applications in areas such as biotechnology and medicine.