A tribute to Sidney Altman, one of the architects of modern RNA biology

Abstract

This special issue of JBC pays tribute to Sidney Altman, whose discovery of a catalytic role for RNA, a breakthrough made independently by Thomas Cech, overturned the long-held dogma that only proteins can serve as catalysts in biological systems. The discovery of RNA catalysis galvanized biologists to think expansively in new directions and has given rise to a remarkable RNAissance in science and medicine. The collection of articles begins with the story of the discovery of RNase P and builds up to the emerging picture of an unexpectedly vast repertoire of RNase P variants in the three domains of life, including insights derived from recent high-resolution structures on how RNAs, ribonucleoproteins, or protein scaffolds can be used variably to generate an active site for catalyzing the same RNA processing reaction. The series of articles ends with a discussion of more recently discovered endonucleases (Argonautes, Cas), whose parallels with RNase P underscore recurring themes in diverse biological contexts.