Take your vitamins with a pinch of RNA.
RNA "aptamers" capable of binding and discriminating among structurally related small molecules can be concocted in the laboratory. Two groups have now discovered that conserved domains in the 5' ends of some mRNAs bind specific metabolites and respond by changing their shape in biologically useful ways, demonstrating that aptamers also are present in the natural world.
Weisberg
Robert A
RA
Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Storz
Gisela
G
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D001665:Binding Sites; D005486:Flavin Mononucleotide / Q000378:metabolism; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014815:Vitamins / Q000378:metabolism*
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014815:Vitamins; D005486:Flavin Mononucleotide