Ribozymes that use redox cofactors *

This review summarizes the history and most recent advances in aptamers and ribozymes that bind and use redox(reduction–oxidation) cofactors. Redox reactions, catalyzed by protein enzymes in an extant world, play a central role in the metabolism of numerous biological molecules in the living organisms. The burden of catalyzing these reactions in a preprotein-based world (i.e., the hypothesized RNA World) could have been borne by RNA molecules. To this end, we raise a fundamental question: can RNA accelerate the redox chemical transformation? We hope that this article will be able to shed light on this intriguing question.