Metal sensing by RNA in bacteria: exception or rule?
Until 2006, it was believed that bacteria control their intracellular metal ion concentrations exclusively through metal-sensing proteins. However, the detection of the first riboswitch that uses a small ion, Mg2+, as ligand to regulate gene expression in Salmonella challenged this assumption. Now, the discovery and in-depth characterization of a second metal-ion-sensing riboswitch that seems to be ubiquitously present in Gram-positive bacteria suggest that metal sensing by RNAs may represent a widespread mechanism.
AG Bakteriengenetik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Philosophenweg 12, D-07743 Jena, Germany. Sabine.Brantl@uni-jena.de
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D017920:Antiporters / Q000235:genetics; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006706:Homeostasis; D008024:Ligands; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*
D017920:Antiporters; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D008670:Metals; C092192:MgtE protein, bacteria; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D008274:Magnesium