Structure Determination of Catalytic RNAs and Investigations of Their Metal Ion-Binding Properties

Naturally occurring RNA molecules exhibit many unexpected and fascinating properties in living cells like protein synthesis and transport, regulation of metabolic functions, and catalytic cleavage reactions. To understand this functional diversity, a detailed knowledge of RNA structure and metal ion-binding properties is crucial. In our research group, we address these problems by combining various biochemical, analytical and spectroscopic techniques. A large part of our work is devoted to the structure determination of catalytic RNA molecules, i.e. ribozymes, by NMR. Based on the three-dimensional structure, further experiments are carried out to understand in detail the effects of different metal ions on the local and global structure, as well as catalysis itself. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2533/000942905777675534 Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-79691 Published Version Originally published at: Erat, M C; Sigel, Roland K O (2005). Structure Determination of Catalytic RNAs and Investigations of Their Metal Ion-Binding Properties. CHIMIA International Journal for Chemistry, 59(11):817-821. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2533/000942905777675534 MODIFIED OLIGONUCLEOTIDES 817 CHIMIA 2005, 59, No. 11 Chimia 59 (2005) 817–821 © Schweizerische Chemische Gesellschaft ISSN 0009–4293 Structure Determination of Catalytic RNAs and Investigations of Their Metal Ion-Binding Properties Michèle C. Erat and Roland K.O. Sigel* Abstract: Naturally occurring RNA molecules exhibit many unexpected and fascinating properties in living cells Naturally occurring RNA molecules exhibit many unexpected and fascinating properties in living cells such as protein synthesis and transport, regulation of metabolic functions, and catalytic cleavage reactions. To understand this functional diversity, a detailed knowledge of RNA structure and metal ion-binding properties is crucial. In our research group, we address these problems by combining various biochemical, analytical and spectroscopic techniques. A large part of our work is devoted to the structure determination of catalytic RNA molecules, i.e. ribozymes, by NMR. Based on the three-dimensional structure, further experiments are carried out to understand in detail the effects of different metal ions on the local and global structure, as well as catalysis itself.