[Engineering and screening of artificial riboswitch as a novel gene control element]

Various artificial riboswitches have been constructed by utilization of designed aptamers or by modification of natural riboswitch systems, because they can regulate gene expression in a highly efficient, precise and fast way, and promise to supply simple cis-acting, modular, and non-immunogenic system for use in future gene therapy applications. In this review, we present an overview of currently available technologies to design and select engineered riboswitches, and discuss some possible technologies that would allow them highly responsive to non-natural ligands, and dynamic control of gene expression in mammalian cells. Though how to bring custom-designed riboswitches as a novel and versatile tool box to gene control system is still a great challenge, the combination of structure-activity relationship information, computer based molecular design, in vitro selection, and high-through screening will serve as powerful tools for further development of riboswitch based gene regulatory systems.