Ribozymes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. RNA molecules that function as enzymes by catalyzing biochemical reactions, playing essential roles in various cellular processes and gene regulation
2. Enzymatic RNA structures that facilitate specific chemical reactions, significantly influencing metabolic pathways and genetic expression in living organisms
3. RNA molecules that serve as catalysts to accelerate specific biochemical reactions in cells

Etymology: Ribozymes are RNA molecules that act as catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions in the way protein enzymes usually do. The word is a blend of "ribonucleic acid" and "enzyme," and it is the plural form of "ribozyme," so each item is one such RNA molecule. The name points to a surprising fact: RNA was long thought to be only a messenger and a passive carrier of genetic information, with proteins doing all the chemical work. The discovery that some RNA molecules can cut and join other RNA strands overturned that assumption, which is why a word combining "ribonucleic acid" with "enzyme" was needed at all. The blend tells you both halves of the idea at once: a nucleic acid that behaves like an enzyme.

Synonyms: RNA enzymes