title: Phosphate-group recognition by the aptamer domain of the thiamine pyrophosphate sensing riboswitch.
abstract: Riboswitches are highly structured RNA elements that control gene expression by binding directly to small metabolite molecules. Remarkably, many of these metabolites contain negatively charged phosphate groups that contribute significantly to the binding affinity. An example is the thiamine pyrophosphate-sensing riboswitch in the 5'-untranslated region of the E. coli thiM mRNA. This riboswitch binds, in order of decreasing affinity, to thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), thiamine monophosphate (TMP), and thiamine, which contain two, one, and no phosphate groups, respectively. We examined the binding of TPP and TMP to this riboswitch by using (31)P NMR spectroscopy. Chemical-shift changes were observed for the alpha- and beta-phosphate group of TPP and the phosphate group of TMP upon RNA binding; this indicates that they are in close contact with the RNA. Titration experiments with paramagnetic Mn(2+) ions revealed strong line-broadening effects for both (31)P signals of the bound TPP; this indicates a Mg(2+) binding site in close proximity and suggests that the phosphate group(s) of the ligand is/are recognized in a magnesium ion-mediated manner by the RNA.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Noeske
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stirnal
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schwalbe
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wöhnert
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000737:chemistry*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D008274:Magnesium / Q000737:chemistry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008345:Manganese / Q000737:chemistry; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / Q000235:genetics; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry; D013833:Thiamine Monophosphate / Q000737:chemistry; D013835:Thiamine Pyrophosphate / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D010710:Phosphates; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D008345:Manganese; D013833:Thiamine Monophosphate; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); C051254:hydroxyethylthiazole kinase; D008274:Magnesium; D013835:Thiamine Pyrophosphate