RNA PSEUDOKNOTS

Many new RNA pseudoknot structures have been detected and proposed in the past year. Although we are still waiting for the first detailed st ructure of a pseudoknot, their role in processes such as translational autoregulation or ribosomal frameshifting has been extensively studie d and is now well established. Pseudoknot structures appear to play a pivotal role in small subunit ribosomal RNA and in the noncoding regio ns of viral RNAs. There are also strong indications that RNA pseudokno ts are highly suitable structural motifs for the recognition and bindi ng of proteins.