The hairpin ribozyme: structure, assembly and catalysis.

Recent studies of the hairpin ribozyme have revealed a distinct catalytic mechanism for this small RNA motif. Inner-sphere coordinated metal ions are not required, as the inert metal ion complex cobalt hexammine promotes catalysis. Detailed kinetic analyses have defined rates of individual steps in the catalytic cycle. Functional group modification, NMR studies of subdomains and cross-linking experiments, in combination with computer modeling, have led to a proposal for domain interactions in the substrate-ribozyme complex.