Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Riboswitches01:56

Riboswitches

9.1K
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...
9.1K
Types of RNA01:23

Types of RNA

70.9K
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...
70.9K
Types of RNA01:20

Types of RNA

8.3K
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...
8.3K
Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches01:23

Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches

326
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...
326
Translational Regulation01:29

Translational Regulation

357
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,...
357
Ribozymes02:47

Ribozymes

13.0K
The term ribozyme is used for RNA that can act as an enzyme. Ribozymes are mainly found in selected viruses, bacteria, plant organelles, and lower eukaryotes. Ribozymes were first discovered in 1982 when Tom Cech’s laboratory observed Group I introns acting as enzymes. This was shortly followed by the discovery of another ribozyme, Ribonulcease P, by Sid Altman’s laboratory. Both Cech and Altman received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1989 for their work on ribozymes.
Ribozymes can...
13.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Rational design of mechanically active RNAs: de novo engineering of functional exoribonuclease-resistant RNAs.

Nucleic acids research·2026
Same author

Computational Analysis of Telomerase RNA Evolution in <i>Caenorhabditis</i> Species.

Non-coding RNA·2026
Same author

Vaspin identified as a DNA-binding serpin with functional consequences for protease inhibition.

The FEBS journal·2025
Same author

Computed tomographic myelography of the cranial cervical spine in Warmblood horses with no spinal pathology-Inter- and intravertebral ratios and distribution of contrast columns in neutral and flexed cervical spine.

Equine veterinary journal·2025
Same author

Armless hairpin-like tRNAs in Romanomermis culicivorax: Evolutionary adaptation of a mitochondrial elongation factor EF-Tu.

The Journal of biological chemistry·2025
Same author

Targeting Glioblastoma Stem Cells via EphA2: Structural Insights into the RNA Aptamer A40s for Precision Therapy.

Journal of chemical information and modeling·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 20, 2025

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers
06:59

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 20, 2014

15.2K

Ligand-dependent tRNA processing by a rationally designed RNase P riboswitch.

Anna Ender1, Maja Etzel1, Stefan Hammer2

  • 1Institute for Biochemistry, Leipzig University, Brüderstr. 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.

Nucleic Acids Research
|January 20, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Researchers engineered a synthetic riboswitch to control tRNA maturation. This novel element precisely regulates essential transfer RNA (tRNA) processing steps, offering new tools for synthetic biology applications.

More Related Videos

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids
09:04

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids

Published on: September 21, 2017

9.7K
Chemical Triphosphorylation of Oligonucleotides
13:19

Chemical Triphosphorylation of Oligonucleotides

Published on: June 2, 2022

3.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 20, 2025

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers
06:59

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 20, 2014

15.2K
Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids
09:04

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids

Published on: September 21, 2017

9.7K
Chemical Triphosphorylation of Oligonucleotides
13:19

Chemical Triphosphorylation of Oligonucleotides

Published on: June 2, 2022

3.8K

Area of Science:

  • Synthetic biology
  • RNA biology
  • Molecular mechanisms

Background:

  • Transfer RNA (tRNA) is crucial for protein synthesis.
  • tRNA maturation involves precise processing steps, including 5'-end formation by RNase P.
  • The structure of the tRNA leader region is thought to influence maturation efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To design and validate a synthetic riboswitch for regulating tRNA 5'-processing.
  • To demonstrate ligand-inducible control over a specific tRNA maturation step.
  • To explore the potential of computational design for creating RNA-based regulatory devices.

Main Methods:

  • Rational in silico design of a synthetic riboswitch element.
  • In vitro and in vivo characterization of riboswitch function.
  • Investigating the role of a single base pair in the 5'-leader for regulation.

Main Results:

  • A synthetic riboswitch was successfully constructed to regulate RNase P-catalyzed tRNA 5'-processing.
  • The riboswitch activity is dependent on ligand binding, which alters the accessibility of the tRNA precursor's 5'-leader.
  • A single base pair modification in the 5'-leader significantly impacts regulatory potential both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions:

  • The study validates the importance of leader region structure in tRNA maturation.
  • Computational design can yield functional RNA regulatory elements targeting specific maturation steps.
  • Engineered riboswitches represent promising building blocks for synthetic biology applications.