RNA-Cleaving Oligonucleotide-Peptide Conjugates

Abstract

The most widely described artificial ribonucleases are designed on the basis of RNA-binding domains and low molecular weight constructs bearing functional groups of amino acid residues from catalytic centers of natural RNases: conjugates containing imidazole and carboxylate ions, guanidinium groups (see review Silnikov and Vlassov 200l). This chapter is devoted to proteins displaying ribonuclease activity and peptide-based conjugates which are capable of hydrolyzing RNA. The basic requirements showed by any artificial ribonucleases are high efficiency and specificity of RNA cleavage. The efficiency of hydrolysis is determined by the catalytic properties of active groups, and the specificity is determined by the affinity of compounds for certain RNA sites.