Human hepatitis delta virus RNA subfragments contain an autocleavage activity.

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.86.6.1831
• Publication Date: 2006-05-31T11:15:03Z
• Authors: H N Wu; Y J Lin; F P Lin; S Makino; M F Chang; M M Lai
• Keywords: Cleavage (geology); Phosphodiester bond; Ligase ribozyme; Mammalian CPEB3 ribozyme

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) contains a single-stranded circular RNA genome of 1.7 kilobases. In this report we demonstrate that subfragments HDV can undergo autocatalytic cleavage. This cleavage requires at least 500 microM Mg2+ or Ca2+, is not affected by varying the pH from 5.0 to 9.1, and occurs with fragments as small 133 nucleotides. The larger containing additional sequences have lower efficiency Deletion analysis both ends suggested catalytic ability resides in stretch no more than 117 nucleotides around site. phosphodiester bond between 688 689 on genomic map, generating 5' fragment terminal uridyl 2',3'-cyclic monophosphate residue 3' guanosyl 5'-hydroxyl group. smallest autocleaving does contain "hammerhead" sequence required for autocleavage other known self-cleaving RNA. much faster rate, even very low concentration, "ribozymes." Thus, represents distinct class ribozyme.