Unveiling the Intricate Mechanisms of Intron Catalysis and Dynamics in Splicing

Scientists have gained new insights into the structural organization and catalytic mechanisms of group II introns, which are RNA molecules involved in splicing. Using cryo-electron microscopy, researchers visualized the intron ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex at different stages of splicing. They discovered the intricate molecular interactions that position the branch helix and recognize the branchpoint nucleotide. The study also revealed the conformational dynamics of the intron RNP during the splicing process. These findings provide a better understanding of the fundamental reactions involved in RNA splicing and shed light on the evolution of splicing machines.