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Related Experiment Videos

Riboswitches: natural SELEXion.

S D Gilbert1, R T Batey

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado at Boulder, Campus Box 215, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0215, USA.

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS
|October 19, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Artificial RNA molecules created through SELEX can perform various functions. Comparing these to natural riboswitches reveals differences in complexity and selection processes for small-molecule recognition.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics

Background:

  • RNA molecules possess catalytic and binding functions, enabling diverse applications.
  • SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) is a method for developing artificial RNA aptamers.
  • Riboswitches are naturally occurring RNA aptamers regulating gene expression through small-molecule binding.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the structural complexity of natural riboswitches with in-vitro-selected RNA aptamers.
  • To understand the implications of natural versus artificial selection on RNA structure and function.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing knowledge of RNA structure and chemistry.
  • Employing the SELEX process for artificial RNA selection.
  • Structural determination of the guanine riboswitch.

Main Results:

  • Artificial RNA molecules (aptamers) can be engineered for specific functions like enzymatic activity and ligand binding.
  • Natural riboswitches, involved in genetic regulation, serve as a benchmark for comparison with artificial aptamers.
  • Structural analysis of the guanine riboswitch suggests greater complexity compared to SELEX-derived aptamers.

Conclusions:

  • Natural selection may lead to more complex RNA structures for small-molecule recognition than artificial selection (SELEX).
  • Understanding riboswitches provides insights into the evolution and design principles of functional RNAs.

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