Connections to biology 5 Ribozymes are RNA polymers that are

Last updated: 3/22/2023

Connections to biology 5 Ribozymes are RNA polymers that are found to catalyze a number of important biochemical reactions similar to protein enzymes Among the most common reactions they catalyze is the cleavage of RNA polymers One potential mechanism by which they catalyze the cleavage of the RNA backbone is shown in the figure to the right where the ribozyme uses a base X to facilitate nucleophilic attack of an alcohol group and an acidic group Y H to facilitate the leaving group ability of the alcohol attached to the ribose B O O H B O OH Y H De B O OH I m 1 he 0 9 0 O A H O B b Would you predict the change in entropy AS to be positive negative or negligible for this reaction OH a Is the mechanism shown an example of a concerted addition elimination or elimination addition type c Would you predict the presence of the ribozyme to increase make more positive decrease make more negative or not affect the change in free energy AG of this reaction