Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 13 September 1985:
Vol. 229. no. 4718, pp. 1060 - 1064
DOI: 10.1126/science.2412290
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Science, Vol 229, Issue 4718, 1060-1064
Copyright © 1985 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Oligomerization of intervening sequence RNA molecules in the absence of proteins

AJ Zaug and TR Cech

The intervening sequence RNA excised from the ribosomal RNA precursor of Tetrahymena forms linear and circular oligomers when exposed to a heating-cooling treatment in vitro. The reactions require no protein or external energy source. Oligomerization is different from other self-catalyzed reactions of the intervening sequence RNA in that it involves intermolecular rather than intramolecular recombination, producing RNA molecules that are substantially larger than the original. The observation that RNA molecules can catalyze their own oligomerization has possible implications for the evolution of chromosomes and for the replicative cycle of plant viroids and virus-associated RNA's.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
RNA chaperone activity of L1 ribosomal proteins: phylogenetic conservation and splicing inhibition.
S. L. Ameres, D. Shcherbakov, E. Nikonova, W. Piendl, R. Schroeder, and K. Semrad (2007)
Nucleic Acids Res. 35, 3752-3763
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The chemistry of self-splicing RNA and RNA enzymes.
T. Cech (1987)
Science 236, 1532-1539
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)