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GTPases and their Regulation

GTPases and their Regulation

Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins), also known as GTPases, are a superfamily of proteins that regulate many cellular processes, such as cell signaling, vesicular transport, and the regulation of cell shape and motility. Mutation or dysfunction of these proteins can lead to disease. There are around 40,000 known G-proteins that can broadly be classified into two groups ‒ small G-proteins consisting of a single domain and large multi-domain G-proteins.
Large G-proteins, also known...

Riboswitches

Riboswitches

Riboswitches are non-coding mRNA domains that regulate the transcription and translation of downstream genes without the help of proteins. Riboswitches bind directly to a metabolite and can form unique stem-loop or hairpin structures in response to the amount of the metabolite present. They have two distinct regions – a metabolite-binding aptamer and an expression platform.
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...

Bacterial Transcription

Bacterial Transcription

RNA polymerase (RNAP) carries out DNA-dependent RNA synthesis in both bacteria and eukaryotes. Bacteria do not have a membrane-bound nucleus. So, transcription and translation occur simultaneously, on the same DNA template.
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:

GTPases and their Regulation

GTPases and their Regulation

Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins), also known as GTPases, are a superfamily of proteins that regulate many cellular processes, such as cell signaling, vesicular transport, and the regulation of cell shape and motility. Mutation or dysfunction of these proteins can lead to disease. There are around 40,000 known G-proteins that can broadly be classified into two groups ‒ small G-proteins consisting of a single domain and large multi-domain G-proteins.
Large G-proteins, also known...

Translational Regulation

Translational Regulation

Translational regulation in prokaryotes ensures efficient protein synthesis by controlling ribosome access to mRNA. This regulation is mediated by secondary RNA structures, including translational riboswitches, RNA thermometers, and small RNAs (sRNAs), which respond to intracellular and environmental signals to modulate gene expression.Translational RiboswitchesRiboswitches in the leader region of mRNAs can regulate translation by altering the accessibility of the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence,...

Stringent Response in E. coli

Stringent Response in E. coli

Bacterial growth is closely tied to nutrient availability, with cells proliferating exponentially under favorable conditions and entering a stationary phase when resources become scarce. This transition is mediated by a regulatory mechanism known as the stringent response, which allows bacteria to adapt to nutrient deprivation by modulating gene expression and metabolic activity.During nutrient scarcity, intracellular amino acid levels decline. It results in the accumulation of uncharged tRNAs...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 23, 2026

Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses

Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses

Published on: February 25, 2011

Evolution of a molecular switch: universal bacterial GTPases regulate ribosome function.

C E Caldon¹, P Yoong, P E March

¹School of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

Molecular Microbiology

|August 8, 2001

Summary

The 11 universally conserved GTPases in bacteria are crucial for ribosome function and cellular responses. Some GTPases may have evolved from RNA-binding ancestors, losing this capability over time.

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Published on: October 8, 2015

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genomics
Biochemistry

Background:

GTPases are a superfamily of conserved molecular switches vital for cellular processes across all life domains.
Bacteria possess 11 universally conserved GTPases, including elongation factors G and Tu, and initiation factor 2.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the conserved functions and evolutionary origins of universally conserved GTPases in bacteria.
To investigate the proposed link between GTPase function, RNA, and ribosome activity.

Main Methods:

Analysis of genome sequencing data to identify universally conserved GTPases.
Review of existing research on GTPase function and interactions with RNA and ribosomes.

Main Results:

Identified 11 core GTPases conserved in bacteria, highlighting their essential roles.
GTPase function is strongly linked to RNA and/or ribosome interaction.
A hypothesis suggests these GTPases regulate ribosome function and cellular signaling.

Conclusions:

The 11 universal bacterial GTPases are critical for ribosome function and cellular response pathways.
An evolutionary model proposes that non-RNA-binding GTPases evolved from RNA-binding progenitors.