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Characterization of metal‐sensing riboswitches
Author(s) -
Dann Charles E,
Wakeman Catherine A,
Winkler Wade C
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.840.1
Subject(s) - riboswitch , computational biology , aptamer , rna , rna splicing , transcription (linguistics) , chemistry , non coding rna , biology , genetics , biochemistry , gene , linguistics , philosophy
Many cis‐ acting small regulatory RNAs that bind metabolites, termed riboswitches, have been identified in recent years. The binding of a metabolite to riboswitches results directly in genetic regulation of its transcript through diverse mechanisms affecting transcription termination, translation initiation, mRNA stability and splicing. We have focused on the M‐box aptamer domain, previously referred to as the ykoK orphan riboswitch. Through a convergence of many lines of biochemical, biophysical and structural data, we have demonstrated that this new class of riboswitch senses divalent cations. The mechanism of metal ion sensing based on our 2.6 Åcrystallographic structure will be presented as well as supporting data for metal binding at key sites in the RNA. This work represents a substantial step forward in our thinking about potential ligands sensed by riboswitches and raises the possibility that additional metal‐sensing RNAs could exist. Funding provided by the Searle Scholars Program, the UT Southwestern Medical Center Endowed Scholars Program, the Welch Foundation, the Sara and Frank McKnight Fund for Biochemical Research, Indiana University CoAS, and NIH Grant # 5R01GM081882‐02 (WCW).