Catalytic RNA nano-objects formed by self-assembly of group I ribozyme dimers serving as unit structures.

Ribozymes with modular structures are attractive platforms for the construction of nanoscale RNA objects with biological functions. We designed group I ribozyme dimers as unit ribozyme dimers (Urds), which self-assembled to form their polymeric states and also oligomeric states with defined numbers of Urds. Assembly of Urds yielded catalytic ability of a pair of distinct ribozyme units to cleave two distinct substrates. The morphologies of the assembled ribozyme structures were observed directly by atomic force microscopy (AFM).