Structural and Catalytic Roles of Metal Ions in RNA

Metal Ions in Life Sciences links coordination chemistry and biochemistry in their widest sense and thus increases our understanding of the relationship between the chemistry of metals and life processes; in fact, it is an old wisdom that metals are indispensable for life. The series reflects the interdisciplinary nature of Biological Inorganic Chemistry and coordinates the efforts of scientists in numerous interconnecting research fields.

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The discovery of ribozymes nearly 30 years ago triggered a huge interest in the chemistry and biology of RNAs. Much of the recently made progress focusing on metal ions is addressed in MILS 9. This book, written by 28 internationally recognized experts from 8 nations, provides a most up-to-date view and is thus of special relevance for colleagues teaching courses in biological inorganic chemistry and for researchers dealing, e.g., with nucleic acids, gene expression, and enzymology, but also for those in analytical and bioinorganic chemistry or biophysics. Structural and Catalytic Roles of Metal Ions in RNA describes in an authoritative and timely manner in 12 stimulating chapters, supported by nearly 1600 references, 13 tables, and 75 illustrations, mostly in color, metal ion-binding motifs, methods to detect and characterize metal ion-binding sites, and the role of metal ions in folding and catalysis. It deals with diffuse metal ion binding, RNA quadruplexes, the regulation of riboswitches, metal ions and ribozymes, including artificial ribozymes. The spliceosome, the ribosome, ribozymes involving redox cofactors as well as the binding of kinetically inert metal ions to RNA are also covered.