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Gene Machine: The Race to Decipher the Secrets of the Ribosome
Mercer_Pub 248
The study describes the development of a continuous evolution system to engineer small degron tags that can be inserted into endogenous genes and selectively degrade proteins using specific small molecules.
LinkThe RNA of the large subunit of the ribosome folds into a multibranched structure; only the portion that catalyzes the peptidyl transfer reaction is shown here (structure at upper right). The ribosome illustrated contains two tRNAs, bound to adjacent triplet codons on the mRNA. One tRNA carries the growing protein chain (shapes represent five diffe
... See moreThomas R. Cech • The Catalyst: RNA and the Quest to Unlock Life's Deepest Secrets
positively charged magnesium ions, which are normal constituents of living cells, positioned themselves to solve the charge-repulsion problem of folding a highly negatively charged RNA.
Thomas R. Cech • The Catalyst: RNA and the Quest to Unlock Life's Deepest Secrets
abbreviated RNAase or RNase,
Thomas R. Cech • The Catalyst: RNA and the Quest to Unlock Life's Deepest Secrets
The U2 snRNA base-paired with a complementary sequence near the end of the intron, but it was a protein associated with the U2 snRNA that recognized the AG splice site.
Thomas R. Cech • The Catalyst: RNA and the Quest to Unlock Life's Deepest Secrets
U6 enters the scene tightly entwined with U4, and together they find their place on the intron. But then U2 butts in, stealing away U6, and U4 exits the stage in a huff. Now U6 and U2, with some help from U5, are free to produce the chemistry needed to complete the splicing reaction. Together they act as a ribozyme, catalyzing the mRNA splicing pro
... See moreThomas R. Cech • The Catalyst: RNA and the Quest to Unlock Life's Deepest Secrets
These were then bound and shepherded to their sites of action by another enzyme researchers dubbed Argonaute,