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. 1987 Dec 10;15(23):9825–9840. doi: 10.1093/nar/15.23.9825

Structure of the catalytic core of the Tetrahymena ribozyme as indicated by reactive abbreviated forms of the molecule.

G F Joyce 1, T Inoue 1
PMCID: PMC306534  PMID: 3697083

Abstract

The precursor rRNA of Tetrahymena thermophila contains a group I intervening sequence (IVS) that catalyzes its own excision to yield mature rRNA. The excised IVS catalyzes a number of cleavage/ligation reactions that are analogous to the transesterification reactions of splicing. We examined the behavior of a variety of 3'-truncated forms of the IVS and found several abbreviated molecules that retained catalytic activity. The reactivity of these molecules indicates that the site at which cleavage/ligation occurs lies in close proximity to all of the conserved sequence elements within the catalytic core of the IVS.

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Selected References

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