A catalytic 13-mer ribozyme

Abstract
A 13-mer oligoribonucleotide can act as a ribozyme for the specific self-cleavage of a 41-mer oligoribonucleotide substrate in the presence of Mg2+. The two sequences involved correspond to the self-cleavage hammerhead structure of the virusoid of lucerne transient streak virus. The Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters for there actions were; Km 1.3 .mu.M, Vmax 0.012 .mu.M min-1, kcat 0.5 min-1. The 13-mer RNA is the smallest ribozyme so far reported. A DNA analogue of the 13-mer cannot substitute for the RNA in the reaction.