\contentsline {section}{\numberline {1}Introduction}{3}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {2}Different classes of ribozymes}{6}
\contentsline {section}{Different classes of ribozymes}{6}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {2.1}Self-cleaving small RNAs}{6}
\contentsline {subsection}{Self-cleaving small RNAs}{6}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {2.2}Viroids and the Hammerhead Ribozyme}{10}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {2.3}RNA satellites of plant viruses and the hairpin ribozyme}{11}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {2.4}Varkud satellite ribozyme of Neurospora (VS)}{14}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {2.5}RNA viruses and the HDV ribozyme}{15}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {2.6}The riboswitch ribozyme glucosamine-6-phosphate (glmS ribozyme)}{16}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {2.7}The Ribosome}{17}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {3}Why Pressure ?}{17}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.1}Pressure effects on cell physiology}{18}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.2}Adaptations to high pressure}{20}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.3}Pressure effects are based on volume changes}{21}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.4}Electrostriction}{24}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.5}Influence of pressure on an equilibrium reaction}{25}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.6}Influence of pressure on reactions catalyzed by enzymes}{26}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.7}Osmotic Pressure}{26}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {4}Influence of pressure on nucleic acids}{28}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.1}DNA}{28}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.2}RNA}{29}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.3}Loop-loop interactions, hairpins and bulges in RNA}{29}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {5}High pressure studies of ribozymes}{31}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.1}Hairpin ribozyme}{32}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.2}Hammerhead ribozyme}{36}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {6}Concluding remarks}{38}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {7}Author Information}{41}
\contentsline {section}{\relax Acknowledgement}{42}
\contentsline {section}{\relax Supporting Information Available}{42}
\contentsline {section}{\relax References}{42}
