Biologically Important Reactions Catalyzed by RNA Molecules

Abstract The last few years have seen a considerable increase in our understanding of catalysis by naturally occurring RNA molecules called ribozymes. The biological functions of RNA molecules depend upon their adoption of appropriate three‐dimensional structures. The structure of RNA has a very important electrostatic component, which results from the presence of charged phosphodiester bonds. Metal ions are usually required to stabilize the folded structures and/or catalysis. Some ribozymes utilize metal ions as catalysts, whereas others use the ions to maintain appropriate three‐dimensional structures. In the latter case, the correct folding of the RNA structures can perturb the pKa values of the nucleotide(s) within a catalytic pocket such that they act as general acid/bases catalysts. © 2002 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 2: 307–318, 2002: Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI 10.1002/tcr.10031