Difference between revisions of "History and Background"
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In 1967, Carl Woese, Francis Crick and Leslie Orgel hypothesized that RNA molecules could be used as catalysts based on their complex secondary structures. It was not until 1982 when Thomas R. Cech first showed that RNA molecules could be used as catalysts of chemical reactions, for which won the Nobel Peace prize along with Sidney Altman in 1989. However, the term "ribozyme" was coined by Kelly Kruger ''et al'' in a paper published in ''Cell'' in 1982. Since then, ribozymes have proven to be an important area of research in gene technology. | In 1967, Carl Woese, Francis Crick and Leslie Orgel hypothesized that RNA molecules could be used as catalysts based on their complex secondary structures. It was not until 1982 when Thomas R. Cech first showed that RNA molecules could be used as catalysts of chemical reactions, for which won the Nobel Peace prize along with Sidney Altman in 1989. However, the term "ribozyme" was coined by Kelly Kruger ''et al'' in a paper published in ''Cell'' in 1982. Since then, ribozymes have proven to be an important area of research in gene technology. | ||
| − | == | + | == Function in Natural Systems == |
| + | The existence of ribozymes in natural systems is fairly rare, which is not to say that they are not important. In essense, the active part of the ribosome that translates RNA can be considered a ribozyme. | ||
Revision as of 01:49, 20 November 2007
Discovery
In 1967, Carl Woese, Francis Crick and Leslie Orgel hypothesized that RNA molecules could be used as catalysts based on their complex secondary structures. It was not until 1982 when Thomas R. Cech first showed that RNA molecules could be used as catalysts of chemical reactions, for which won the Nobel Peace prize along with Sidney Altman in 1989. However, the term "ribozyme" was coined by Kelly Kruger et al in a paper published in Cell in 1982. Since then, ribozymes have proven to be an important area of research in gene technology.
Function in Natural Systems
The existence of ribozymes in natural systems is fairly rare, which is not to say that they are not important. In essense, the active part of the ribosome that translates RNA can be considered a ribozyme.
