A small metalloribozyme with a two-step mechanism

An RNA molecule consisting of an asymmetric internal loop of six nucleotides can be rapidly and specifically cleaved by Pb2+ in the presence of Mg2+. The 5′ cleavage product terminates with a 3′ phosphomonoester generated from a 2′,3′-cyclic phosphodiester reaction intermediate. This two-step reaction mechanism resembles that of many protein ribonucleases but has not previously been observed for reactions catalysed by RNA.

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