Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026
06:21
An Ecdysone Receptor-based Singular Gene Switch for Deliberate Expression of Transgene with Robustness, Reversibility, and Negligible Leakiness
Published on: May 7, 2018
Riboswitches: ancient and promising genetic regulators
Simon Blouin1, Jérôme Mulhbacher, J Carlos Penedo
1Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.
Chembiochem : a European Journal of Chemical Biology
|December 23, 2008
Summary
Metabolite-sensing riboswitches regulate gene expression using RNA structural changes. These natural RNA regulators show potential as antibacterial targets and biosensors.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
Background:
- Riboswitches are RNA molecules that regulate gene expression.
- They respond to changes in metabolite concentrations through structural modulation.
- Riboswitches are found across all three domains of life and regulate essential genes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on metabolite-sensing riboswitches.
- To explore their potential as antibacterial targets.
- To discuss their application as molecular biosensors.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of naturally occurring riboswitches.
- Analysis of RNA structural modulation mechanisms.
- Evaluation of riboswitches' roles in gene regulation.
Main Results:
- Riboswitches extensively modulate RNA structure to control gene expression.
- They operate at various regulatory levels including transcription, translation, splicing, and processing.
- Riboswitches are protein-independent regulatory elements, suggesting ancient origins.
Conclusions:
- Riboswitches offer significant potential for gene expression manipulation.
- They are promising targets for novel antimicrobial agents.
- Their utility as molecular biosensors is rapidly expanding.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Transcriptional 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...
01:56Riboswitches
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...
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...
01:29Translational 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,...
01:23Types 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...
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...
02:02Cis-regulatory Sequences
Cis-regulatory sequences are short fragments of non-coding DNA that are present on the same chromosomes as the genes that they regulate. These fragments serve as binding sites for transcriptional regulators, proteins that are responsible for controlling gene transcription and differential gene expression across cell types in eukaryotes. Cis-regulatory sequences can be close to the gene of interest or thousands of bases away in the DNA sequence; however, those sequences that are further away are...
02:02Cis-regulatory Sequences
Cis-regulatory sequences are short fragments of non-coding DNA that are present on the same chromosomes as the genes that they regulate. These fragments serve as binding sites for transcriptional regulators, proteins that are responsible for controlling gene transcription and differential gene expression across cell types in eukaryotes. Cis-regulatory sequences can be close to the gene of interest or thousands of bases away in the DNA sequence; however, those sequences that are further away are...