Expanding roles for metabolite-sensing regulatory RNAs

Metabolite-sensing regulatory RNAs, oft referred to as riboswitches, are widely used among eubacteria for control of diverse biochemical pathways and transport mechanisms. Great strides have been made in understanding the general structure and biochemistry of individual riboswitch classes. However, along with these advancements, it has become clear that metabolite-sensing riboswitches respond to an increasingly structurally diverse range of metabolite and metal ligands. Moreover, the recent accruement of new riboswitches has uncovered individual examples and classes that utilize unique regulatory strategies or employ a regulatory logic other than simple feedback inhibition.