ribozyymi

Ribozyymi is a term used to describe catalytic RNA molecules. Unlike the more common protein enzymes, ribozymes are RNA sequences that can perform specific biochemical reactions. This discovery revolutionized the understanding of molecular biology, suggesting that RNA could have played a central role in early life as both a carrier of genetic information and a catalyst for essential cellular processes.

The existence of ribozymes was first demonstrated in the 1980s by Sidney Altman and Thomas Cech, who independently identified RNA molecules with enzymatic activity. Altman found a ribozyme in the bacterium Bacillus subtilis that could cleave itself, while Cech discovered that an intron in the ribosomal RNA of Tetrahymena thermophila could self-splice. These findings earned them the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1989.

Ribozymes are involved in a variety of biological functions. For instance, the ribosome itself, the cellular machinery responsible for protein synthesis, is a massive ribozyme. The ribosomal RNA within the ribosome catalyzes the formation of peptide bonds between amino acids. Other ribozymes are known to participate in RNA splicing, RNA ligation, and even the synthesis of new RNA molecules. The study of ribozymes has also opened up avenues for therapeutic applications, with researchers exploring their potential in gene therapy and drug development due to their ability to target and modify specific RNA sequences.