Deciphering RNA recognition: aminoglycoside binding to the hammerhead ribozyme Original Research Article

Aminoglycoside antibiotics inhibit protein biosynthesis and various ribozymes. Structural electrostatic complementarity can explain the inhibition mechanism of the hammerhead ribozyme: positively charged ammonium groups match the negatively charged metalion-binding pockets created by the RNA foldʹs electrostatic field.