A glycine-dependent riboswitch that uses cooperative binding to control gene expression.
We identified a previously unknown riboswitch class in bacteria that is selectively triggered by glycine. A representative of these glycine-sensing RNAs from Bacillus subtilis operates as a rare genetic on switch for the gcvT operon, which codes for proteins that form the glycine cleavage system. Most glycine riboswitches integrate two ligand-binding domains that function cooperatively to more closely approximate a two-state genetic switch. This advanced form of riboswitch may have evolved to ensure that excess glycine is efficiently used to provide carbon flux through the citric acid cycle and maintain adequate amounts of the amino acid for protein synthesis. Thus, riboswitches perform key regulatory roles and exhibit complex performance characteristics that previously had been observed only with protein factors.
Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, Post Office Box 208103, New Haven, CT 06520-8103, USA.
Maumita
M
Mandal
Mark
M
Lee
Jeffrey E
JE
Barrick
Zasha
Z
Weinberg
Gail Mitchell
GM
Emilsson
Walter L
WL
Ruzzo
Ronald R
RR
Breaker
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000494:Allosteric Regulation; D000495:Allosteric Site; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020029:Base Pairing; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009876:Operon; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D008024:Ligands; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005998:Glycine