New RNA motifs suggest an expanded scope for riboswitches in bacterial genetic control.
The expression of certain genes involved in fundamental metabolism is regulated by metabolite-binding "riboswitch" elements embedded within their corresponding mRNAs. We have identified at least six additional elements within the Bacillus subtilis genome that exhibit characteristics of riboswitch function (glmS, gcvT, ydaO/yuaA, ykkC/yxkD, ykoK, and yybP/ykoY). These motifs exhibit extensive sequence and secondary-structure conservation among many bacterial species and occur upstream of related genes. The element located upstream of the glmS gene in Gram-positive organisms functions as a metabolite-dependent ribozyme that responds to glucosamine-6-phosphate. Other motifs form complex folded structures when transcribed as RNA molecules and carry intrinsic terminator structures. These findings indicate that riboswitches serve as a major genetic regulatory mechanism for the control of metabolic genes in many microbial species.
Barrick
Jeffrey E
JE
Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, P.O. Box 208103, New Haven, CT 06520-8103, USA.
Corbino
Keith A
KA
Winkler
Wade C
WC
Nahvi
Ali
A
Mandal
Maumita
M
Collins
Jennifer
J
Lee
Mark
M
Roth
Adam
A
Sudarsan
Narasimhan
N
Jona
Inbal
I
Wickiser
J Kenneth
JK
Breaker
Ronald R
RR
D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D016337:RNA, Catalytic