2025 RNA catalysis

Conference Introduction

In recent years, the field of RNA catalysis has witnessed considerable progress. Although the pace of discovery of new ribozymes has slowed, new self-cleaving RNA species are still emerging, but this leaves open questions about when can a self-cleaving RNA be considered a ribozyme ? There are structures of many ribozymes now, and detailed mechanisms for some. Yet not all ribozymes crystallise in an active form, and for some the catalytic mechanism is still unclear. In vitro selection is expanding the chemical range of RNA catalysis, and structures and mechanisms are beginning to emerge. Can we perceive common mechanistic themes in different ribozymes ?

Considerable time has elapsed since the last conference dedicated to this area. Thus we feel the time is right to convene an opportunity to share the latest findings and discuss current issues. The conference will have a strong focus on discussion, where we hope to resolve matters of current debate.

Our groups are committed to research in RNA catalysis and have regularly organized small-scale meetings in South China to discuss the origin, structure, and mechanisms of ribozymes. Building on this foundation, we are delighted to announce that a discussion symposium will be held on November 15–16, 2025, at the Guangzhou International Bio Island. The organizing committee of this symposium includes Prof. David Lilley FRS, Dr. Lin Huang, Dr. Zhichao Miao, Prof. Philipp Kapranov, and we are especially pleased to have invited Academician Erwei Song. We sincerely invite renowned international experts to join us in exploring new opportunities for ribozyme development and advancing the field to new heights.

The main topics of the symposium will include (these could be expanded – we are open to suggestions) :

1. The discovery of ribozymes in contemporary biospheres: Have we identified all natural self-splicing ribozymes?
2. High-throughput screening methods for novel functional ribozymes.
3. The structure and catalytic mechanisms of known ribozymes and their functions in living organisms.
4. The connection between ribozymes and riboswitches, and the role of small molecules in RNA catalysis.
5. Catalysis beyond phosphotransfer by ribozymes (especially recent developments in methylation/alkylation). The potential existence of such ribozymes in contemporary cells, and new detection methods.
6. New perspectives on RNA catalysis in the origin of life.

We look forward to exploring and discussing cutting-edge issues in RNA catalysis ,and driving further advancements in this field.

Organizing Committee

David Lilley

University of Dundee, UK

Lin Huang

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China

Zhichao Miao

Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University, China

Philipp Kapranov

Xiamen University, China

Invited Speakers

Eric Westhof

University of Strasbourg, France

Darrin York

Rutgers University, US

Joseph Piccirilli

University of Chicago, US

Philip Bevilacqua

Penn State University, US

Andrej Luptak

University of California, Irvine, US

Ronald Micura

University of Innsbruck, Austria

Claudia Höbartner

University of Würzburg, Germany

Alastair Murchie

Fudan University, China

Yaoqi Zhou

Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, China

Aiming Ren

Zhejiang University, China

Yijin Liu

Nankai University, China

Hanyang Yu

Nanjing University, China

Liang Xu

Sun Yat-sen University, China

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