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Related Concept Videos

Riboswitches01:56

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...
Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches01:23

Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches

Riboswitches are RNA elements that regulate gene expression by altering their secondary structures in response to specific effector molecules. These elements, located in the leader regions of certain mRNAs, act as transcriptional regulators by toggling between alternative conformations to control downstream gene expression. Riboswitch-mediated regulation is a precise mechanism for modulating biosynthetic pathways, as exemplified by the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway in Bacillus...
Types of RNA01:23

Types of RNA

Overview
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA...
Translational Regulation01:29

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,...
Ribosome Profiling02:24

Ribosome Profiling

Ribosome profiling or ribo-sequencing is a deep sequencing technique that produces a snapshot of active translation in a cell. It selectively sequences the mRNAs protected by ribosomes to get an insight into a cell’s translation landscape at any given point in time.
Applications of ribosome profiling
Ribosome profiling has many applications, including in vivo monitoring of translation inside a particular organ or tissue type and quantifying new protein synthesis levels.
The technique helps...
Stringent Response in E. coli01:23

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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Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers
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Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 20, 2014

Purine sensing by riboswitches.

Jane N Kim1, Ronald R Breaker

  • 1Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, P.O. Box 208103, New Haven, CT 06520-8103, USA.

Biology of the Cell
|December 13, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Riboswitches are RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by binding to small molecules. This review summarizes purine-sensing riboswitches, detailing their diverse structures and metabolite recognition mechanisms.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • RNA Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Riboswitches are structured mRNA elements that control gene expression through metabolite binding.
  • Over a dozen riboswitch classes exist, recognizing diverse molecules and exhibiting varied structures.
  • Four known riboswitch classes specifically target purines or modified purines.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the characteristics of purine-sensing riboswitches.
  • To discuss the distinct structures and metabolite recognition strategies of these RNA elements.
  • To explore the complex functions and potential applications of purine-sensing riboswitches.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of characterized purine-sensing riboswitches.
  • Comparative analysis of conserved sequences and secondary structures.
  • Examination of metabolite binding pockets and recognition mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Three purine-sensing riboswitch classes share conserved structures but selectively bind guanine, adenine, or 2'-deoxyguanosine.
  • A fourth class utilizes a distinct structure to bind the guanine analogue preQ(1).
  • All four classes likely employ Watson-Crick base-pairing for metabolite recognition.

Conclusions:

  • Purine-sensing riboswitches exhibit structural diversity while employing conserved recognition principles.
  • Understanding these RNA elements is crucial for elucidating gene regulation.
  • Purine-sensing riboswitches hold promise for various biotechnological applications.