RNase P

RNase P is a type of ribonuclease that is unique in that it is a ribozyme – a ribonucleic acid that acts as a catalyst in the same way as an enzyme. Its function is to cleave off an extra, or precursor tRNA, sequence on the 5' end of one stranded RNA. RNase P is one of two known multiple turnover ribozymes in nature (the other being the ribosome). For example, in bacteria RNase P is also responsible for the catalytic activity of holoenzymes, which consist of an apoenzyme that forms an active enzyme system by combination with a coenzyme and determines the specifity of this system for a substrate. A form of RNase P that is a protein and does not contain RNA has recently been discovered.body{zoom:85%!important;}