RNA molecules play a key role in several fundamental cellular events, serving both as a carrier of genetic information and as a catalyst, and hence, RNA has received increasing interest both as a chemotherapeutic agent and as a target of chemotherapy.
RNA is a polymer constructed from monomeric nucleosides by 3′,5′-phosphodiester bonds. In order to understand the chemical behaviour of RNA, the kinetics and mechanisms of the cleavage of RNA phosphodiester bonds have received extensive interest.
In this review, Harri Lonnberg at University of Turku in Finland, writes about the major mechanistic
findings and achievements concerning the cleavage of RNA by small molecules and ions and their significance for the development of efficient and biologically applicable artificial catalysts for RNA hydrolysis.
Read more here.
Cleavage of RNA phosphodiester bonds by small molecular entities: a mechanistic insight
Harri Lönnberg
Org. Biomol. Chem., 2011, 9, 1687-1703
DOI: 10.1039/C0OB00486C
