Hammerhead ribozymes are catalytic RNA molecules able to induce the site-specific cleavage of a phosphodiester bond within an RNA molecule (1). The rational for the therapeutic potential of these RNA enzymes is based on their ability to inhibit in vivo protein synthesis by reducing the level of a specific mRNA within the cell. A major prerequisite for the selection of the most suitable ribozymes to be used for in vivo applications is based on an initial in vitro characterization of their kinetic behaviors.
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