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Nature 418, 222-228 (11 July 2002) | doi:10.1038/418222a

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review article The chemical repertoire of natural ribozymes

Jennifer A. Doudna1 & Thomas R. Cech2

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Although RNA is generally thought to be a passive genetic blueprint, some RNA molecules, called ribozymes, have intrinsic enzyme-like activity — they can catalyse chemical reactions in the complete absence of protein cofactors. In addition to the well-known small ribozymes that cleave phosphodiester bonds, we now know that RNA catalysts probably effect a number of key cellular reactions. This versatility has lent credence to the idea that RNA molecules may have been central to the early stages of life on Earth.