Kasimir Kienbeck, Lukas Malfertheiner, Susann Zelger-Paulus, S. Johannsen, Christian von Mering, R. Sigel
{"title":"From Enigma to Revelation: Unravelling Biological Functions of Ubiquitous Small Ribozymes","authors":"Kasimir Kienbeck, Lukas Malfertheiner, Susann Zelger-Paulus, S. Johannsen, Christian von Mering, R. Sigel","doi":"10.2533/chimia.2024.200","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"RNA, widely recognized as an information-carrier molecule, is capable of catalyzing essential biological processes through ribozymes. Despite their ubiquity, specific functions in a biological context and phenotypes based on the ribozymes' activity are often unknown. Here, we present the discovery of a subgroup of minimal HDV-like ribozymes, which reside 3' to viral tRNAs and appear to cleave the 3'-trailers of viral premature tRNA transcripts. This proposed tRNA-processing function is unprecedented for any ribozymes, thus, we designate this subgroup as theta ribozymes. Most theta ribozymes were identified in Caudoviricetes bacteriophages, the main constituent (>90%) of the mammalian gut virome. Intriguingly, our findings further suggest the involvement of theta ribozymes in the transition of certain bacteriophages between distinct genetic codes, thus possibly contributing to the phage lysis trigger. Our discovery expands the limited repertoire of biological functions attributed to HDV-like ribozymes and provides insights into the fascinating world of RNA catalysis.","PeriodicalId":9957,"journal":{"name":"Chimia","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Chimia","FirstCategoryId":"92","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2024.200","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
RNA, widely recognized as an information-carrier molecule, is capable of catalyzing essential biological processes through ribozymes. Despite their ubiquity, specific functions in a biological context and phenotypes based on the ribozymes' activity are often unknown. Here, we present the discovery of a subgroup of minimal HDV-like ribozymes, which reside 3' to viral tRNAs and appear to cleave the 3'-trailers of viral premature tRNA transcripts. This proposed tRNA-processing function is unprecedented for any ribozymes, thus, we designate this subgroup as theta ribozymes. Most theta ribozymes were identified in Caudoviricetes bacteriophages, the main constituent (>90%) of the mammalian gut virome. Intriguingly, our findings further suggest the involvement of theta ribozymes in the transition of certain bacteriophages between distinct genetic codes, thus possibly contributing to the phage lysis trigger. Our discovery expands the limited repertoire of biological functions attributed to HDV-like ribozymes and provides insights into the fascinating world of RNA catalysis.
期刊介绍:
CHIMIA, a scientific journal for chemistry in the broadest sense covers the interests of a wide and diverse readership. Contributions from all fields of chemistry and related areas are considered for publication in the form of Review Articles and Notes. A characteristic feature of CHIMIA are the thematic issues, each devoted to an area of great current significance.