Abstract
The gene coding for the RNA subunit of ribonuclease P (RNase P) is essential in all free-living organisms. The RNA subunit, itself, is an enzyme and, from its evolutionary tree, we can infer that it is a very ancient molecule. The specificity of this enzyme is that it cleaves other RNA molecules at the junction of single-stranded and the 5' end of double-stranded regions of RNA. One can speculate that this molecule was very useful in an ancient world in cleaving long pieces of RNA, which must have contained hairpin regions in it, into shorter molecules with the capability of different functions from the longer parent. Today, the specificity of the enzyme can be used in designing drug therapies.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.