Tandem Riboswitch Architectures Exhibit Complex Gene Control Functions

Riboswitches are structured RNAs typically located in the 5' untranslated regions of bacterial mRNAs that bind metabolites and control gene expression. Most riboswitches sense one metabolite and function as simple genetic switches. However, we found that the 5' region of the Bacillus claus...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2006-10, Vol.314 (5797), p.300-304
Main Authors: Sudarsan, Narasimhan, Hammond, Ming C, Block, Kirsten F, Welz, Rüdiger, Barrick, Jeffrey E, Roth, Adam, Breaker, Ronald R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
5' Untranslated Regions - metabolism
Aptamers, Nucleotide - chemistry
Aptamers, Nucleotide - metabolism
Architecture
Bacillus - genetics
Bacillus - growth & development
Bacillus - metabolism
Bacillus clausii
Bacteria
Bacteriology
Base Sequence
Biochemistry
Biological and medical sciences
Biophysics
Cobamides - metabolism
Cobamides - pharmacology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gene expression
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
Genes, Bacterial
Genetics
Ligands
Messenger RNA
Metabolites
Methionine - biosynthesis
Methionine - pharmacology
Microbiology
Molecular biology
Molecular Sequence Data
Nucleic Acid Conformation
Protein metabolism
Ribonucleic acid
RNA
RNA, Bacterial - chemistry
RNA, Bacterial - genetics
RNA, Bacterial - metabolism
RNA, Messenger - chemistry
RNA, Messenger - genetics
RNA, Messenger - metabolism
S-Adenosylmethionine - metabolism
Transcription, Genetic
Untranslated regions
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Description
Summary:Riboswitches are structured RNAs typically located in the 5' untranslated regions of bacterial mRNAs that bind metabolites and control gene expression. Most riboswitches sense one metabolite and function as simple genetic switches. However, we found that the 5' region of the Bacillus clausii metE messenger RNA includes two riboswitches that respond to S-adenosylmethionine and coenzyme B₁₂. This tandem arrangement yields a composite gene control system that functions as a two-input Boolean NOR logic gate. These findings and the discovery of additional tandem riboswitch architectures reveal how simple RNA elements can be assembled to make sophisticated genetic decisions without involving protein factors.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1130716