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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...
Types of RNA01:20

Types of RNA

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 regulating 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 Performs Diverse...
Types of RNA01:20

Types of RNA

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 regulating 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 Performs Diverse...
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...

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Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers
06:59

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Published on: August 20, 2014

Riboswitches: emerging themes in RNA structure and function.

Rebecca K Montange1, Robert T Batey

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA.

Annual Review of Biophysics
|June 25, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Riboswitches, RNA molecules regulating gene expression, can be classified into two types based on their ligand-binding pockets. This classification reveals common structural themes in noncoding RNAs.

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Using In Vitro and In-cell SHAPE to Investigate Small Molecule Induced Pre-mRNA Structural Changes

Published on: January 30, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology
  • RNA Biology

Background:

  • Riboswitches are RNA elements that bind small molecules (metabolites) to control gene expression.
  • They utilize diverse secondary and tertiary structures for metabolite recognition and regulatory functions.
  • Understanding riboswitch structural diversity is key to deciphering their regulatory mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate common structural features and classify different riboswitch types based on their architecture.
  • To investigate how ligand binding influences riboswitch structure and function.
  • To explore potential hierarchical classification of noncoding RNA structures.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of three-dimensional structures of six distinct riboswitches.
  • Comparative structural analysis to identify common organizational principles.
  • Examination of ligand-induced conformational changes.

Main Results:

  • Identified two main types of riboswitches: Type I (e.g., purine riboswitch) with localized binding pockets and limited conformational changes, and Type II (e.g., thiamine pyrophosphate riboswitch) with spatially distinct binding sites inducing global structural alterations.
  • Type I riboswitches exhibit a pre-established global fold with ligand-induced local changes.
  • Type II riboswitches undergo both local and global structural rearrangements upon ligand binding.

Conclusions:

  • Riboswitches can be categorized into two fundamental types based on their binding pocket organization and ligand-induced structural dynamics.
  • These organizational themes are conserved across various noncoding RNAs.
  • A hierarchical classification of RNA structure based on active site organization is feasible.