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Related Concept Videos

Riboswitches01:56

Riboswitches

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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...
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Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches01:23

Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches

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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...
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Types of RNA01:23

Types of RNA

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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...
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Translational Regulation01:29

Translational Regulation

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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,...
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Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response01:31

Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response

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Inositol-requiring kinase one or IRE1 is the most conserved eukaryotic unfolded protein response (UPR) receptor. It is a type I transmembrane protein kinase receptor with a distinctive site-specific RNase activity. As the binding mechanics of the misfolded proteins with the N-terminal domain of IRE-1 are unclear, three binding models — direct, indirect, and allosteric -- are proposed for receptor activation. Nevertheless, it is known that once a misfolded protein associates with IRE1, it...
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Ribozymes02:47

Ribozymes

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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...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 27, 2025

Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay EMSA for the Study of RNA-Protein Interactions: The IRE/IRP Example
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Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay EMSA for the Study of RNA-Protein Interactions: The IRE/IRP Example

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Iron-responsive riboswitches.

Jiansong Xu1, Joseph A Cotruvo1

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Center for RNA Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.

Current Opinion in Chemical Biology
|April 15, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacteria use RNA riboswitches to manage excess iron, a critical metal for life. These riboswitches, previously thought to regulate nickel and cobalt, are now understood to control iron levels, especially during anaerobic conditions.

Keywords:
Iron overloadIrving–Williams seriesMetal homeostasisMetalloregulationRNA

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Microbial Physiology
  • Bioinorganic Chemistry

Background:

  • Cells require precise regulation of essential metal ions, including iron, for survival.
  • Bacterial mechanisms for managing high intracellular iron concentrations are an emerging area of research.
  • RNA riboswitches are known regulators of gene expression in response to small molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the czcD (NiCo) RNA riboswitch in bacterial iron homeostasis.
  • To explore the potential function of iron-responsive riboswitches in human gut bacteria and pathogens.
  • To discuss challenges in characterizing iron-responsive riboswitches and propose their physiological relevance.

Main Methods:

  • Review and discussion of recent research on RNA riboswitch function.
  • Analysis of proposed mechanisms for iron-responsive gene regulation.
  • Comparative analysis with protein-based metal ion regulation systems.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests the czcD riboswitch selectively regulates FeII levels, not solely CoII and NiII.
  • A physiological role for these riboswitches in responding to iron overload, potentially during anaerobiosis, is proposed.
  • Riboswitches may be crucial for regulating transport of weakly binding divalent metal ions like MgII, MnII, and FeII.

Conclusions:

  • RNA riboswitches play a significant role in bacterial iron management, particularly under conditions of excess.
  • These regulatory elements are important in the context of gut microbiota and pathogenic bacteria.
  • Riboswitch-mediated regulation is proposed as a key mechanism for controlling the transport of specific divalent metal ions.