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

8.8K
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...
8.8K
Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches01:23

Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches

213
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...
213
Types of RNA01:23

Types of RNA

69.5K
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...
69.5K
Translational Regulation01:29

Translational Regulation

265
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,...
265
Ribozymes02:47

Ribozymes

12.8K
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...
12.8K
Ribosomal RNA Synthesis02:53

Ribosomal RNA Synthesis

13.7K
Ribosome synthesis is a highly complex and coordinated process involving more than 200 assembly factors. The synthesis and processing of ribosomal components occurs not only in the nucleolus but also in the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells.
Ribosome biogenesis begins with the synthesis of 5S and 45S pre-rRNAs by distinct RNA polymerases. The primary transcripts are extensively processed and modified before they are bound and folded by ribosomal proteins and assembly factors,...
13.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Emergent Chemical Reactivity and Complexity of RNA Condensates.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2025
Same author

Structural insights into lab-coevolved RNA-RBP pairs and applications of synthetic riboswitches in cell-free system.

Nucleic acids research·2025
Same author

Accurate, comprehensive database of group I introns and their homing endonucleases.

Bioinformatics advances·2025
Same author

Optimization of Exon-Skipping Riboswitches and Their Applications to Control Mammalian Cell Fate.

ACS synthetic biology·2024
Same author

Switchable and orthogonal gene expression control inside artificial cells by synthetic riboswitches.

Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)·2024
Same author

Correction to "Analysis of the Sequence Preference of Saporin by Deep Sequencing".

ACS chemical biology·2024
Same journal

Rational design of an acridine-derived click chemistry-based artificial metallo-nuclease.

RSC chemical biology·2026
Same journal

Probing sulfotransferase binding and inhibition with synthetic PAPS analogs reveals the role of the 3'-phosphate and informs molecular tool design.

RSC chemical biology·2026
Same journal

Mechanism-based inhibition of zinc-dependent histone deacetylases.

RSC chemical biology·2026
Same journal

Engineering a light-controllable fluorescent protein for peroxynitrite detection <i>via</i> genetic code expansion.

RSC chemical biology·2026
Same journal

Protein digestion using a cysteine-specific backbone cleavage reagent.

RSC chemical biology·2026
Same journal

Probing the <i>C</i> <sub>3</sub> symmetry of gramicidin S.

RSC chemical biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 15, 2025

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers
06:59

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 20, 2014

15.0K

Cell-free riboswitches.

Takeshi Tabuchi1, Yohei Yokobayashi1

  • 1Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Engineering Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University Onna Okinawa 904-0495 Japan yohei.yokobayashi@oist.jp.

RSC Chemical Biology
|October 27, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Synthetic biology aims to create cell-free systems that sense and respond to chemical signals. Cell-free riboswitches achieve this by regulating protein synthesis via RNA-ligand interactions in cell-free systems.

More Related Videos

Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses
11:19

Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses

Published on: February 25, 2011

20.1K
MS2-Affinity Purification Coupled with RNA Sequencing in Gram-Positive Bacteria
08:34

MS2-Affinity Purification Coupled with RNA Sequencing in Gram-Positive Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2021

7.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 15, 2025

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers
06:59

Nanomanipulation of Single RNA Molecules by Optical Tweezers

Published on: August 20, 2014

15.0K
Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses
11:19

Isolation of Translating Ribosomes Containing Peptidyl-tRNAs for Functional and Structural Analyses

Published on: February 25, 2011

20.1K
MS2-Affinity Purification Coupled with RNA Sequencing in Gram-Positive Bacteria
08:34

MS2-Affinity Purification Coupled with RNA Sequencing in Gram-Positive Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2021

7.0K

Area of Science:

  • Synthetic biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular biology

Background:

  • Cell-free synthetic biology seeks to replicate cellular functions outside living cells.
  • Sensing and responding to chemical signals is crucial for advanced cell-free systems.
  • Riboswitches offer a mechanism for signal detection and response through RNA-ligand interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review synthetic cell-free riboswitches developed for prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems.
  • To provide a current perspective on cell-free riboswitch technologies.
  • To identify limitations in current cell-free riboswitch designs.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of published research on synthetic cell-free riboswitches.
  • Analysis of riboswitch designs and their performance in cell-free protein synthesis systems.
  • Categorization of riboswitches based on their function in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems.

Main Results:

  • Synthetic cell-free riboswitches have been successfully implemented in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell-free systems.
  • These riboswitches utilize RNA-ligand interactions to detect chemical signals.
  • Regulation of protein synthesis is a key function demonstrated by these synthetic riboswitches.

Conclusions:

  • Cell-free riboswitch technology is a rapidly advancing field within synthetic biology.
  • Further development is needed to overcome current limitations and enhance functionality.
  • Cell-free riboswitches hold significant potential for creating sophisticated cell-free systems.