CNR researchers discover chemical method to boost RNA efficiency

Researchers from the National Research Council's Institute of Materials Workshop (CNR-IOM), in collaboration with international partners, have identified how specific chemical modifications can significantly enhance RNA efficiency. The study, published in Nature Communications, focuses on a ribozyme known as MTR1.

By adding two small methyl groups to precise points in the MTR1 structure, scientists found they could make the ribozyme up to fifteen times more efficient at accelerating chemical reactions. Unlike most RNA that carries genetic information, ribozymes act similarly to enzymes by catalyzing reactions.

This discovery provides insight into why such minute atomic changes profoundly alter biological activity. The findings are expected to assist in the design of more effective artificial ribozymes for biotechnological applications and improve the understanding of RNA behavior during the early stages of life's evolution.