TRNA-embedded hammerhead ribozymes mediate destruction of HBV (subtype adr) in vitro

Abstract

Two hammerhead ribozymes, RS3 and RC2, targeting the HBsAg and HBcAg regions of HBV(adr) RNA respectively, have been designed. To improve the stability of ribozymes, two tRNA-embedded ribozymes, RtS3 and RtC2, were obtained by inserting RS3 and RC2 into the anticodon region of tRNA. Although the catalytic activity of the tRNA-embedded ribozymes was lower than that of their naked counterparts, the stability of the former in fetal bovine serum or cytoplasmic extract of HepG2 cells was much higher than that of the naked ribozymes. These results suggest that the antivirus effect of tRNA-embedded ribozymes may be greater in vivo in comparison with naked ribozymes.