One Sequence - Two Ribozymes

Experimental verification of the two different folds was obtained from gel shift assays by following the expected ligation versus cleavage products. 

It is of outstanding significance that the intersection sequence of Schultes and 

Bartel is the first example of a molecule that can adopt two different conformations, each associated with a distinct catalytic activity. 

The rational design of very short RNA sequences (15 to 40 nucleotides) that are able to adopt alternative folds is one of our major efforts. Part of this program are RNAs in thermodynamic equilibrium with different defined secondary structures. This also includes the development of methods for direct experimental verification of RNA equilibria and, moreover, applications with respect to biologically relevant RNA switches. 

Nucleoside Methylation is Responsible for Correct Folding of a Human Mitochondrial tRNA 

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Erik A. Schultes and David P. Bartel, One sequence, two ribozymes implications for the emergence of new ribozyme folds. Science, 289 (2000), 448 52. 

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