Ribozyme

3D Structure of Ribozyme

CPK Color Scheme C O N P

On this page, you can see a ribozyme (blue) bound to its RNA polymer substrate (red). You may also detect one or more of the green Mn²⁺ ions bound to the ribozyme. You can click and drag to see the shape before clicking on the buttons below.

Hide the RNA substrate to get a clear view of the ribobzyme and its bound Mn²⁺ ions. After two seconds, the only Mn²⁺ ion that will remain is the one at the reaction center of the RNA enzyme's active site. You will zoom in to focus on the active site.

Bring back the red RNA substrate and see where it is located relative to Mn²⁺ ion in the active site.

Fill in the water molecules that interact with the Mn²⁺ ion at the active site. Some of the ribozyme has been slabbed away so you can see into the active site where the red RNA substrate will be cut into two pieces.

Highlight the phosphodiester backbone site where the substrate RNA will be broken in half.

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