title: Riboswitch RNAs: using RNA to sense cellular metabolism.
abstract: Riboswitches are RNA elements that undergo a shift in structure in response to binding of a regulatory molecule. These elements are encoded within the transcript they regulate, and act in cis to control expression of the coding sequence(s) within that transcript; their function is therefore distinct from that of small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) that act in trans to regulate the activity of other RNA transcripts. Riboswitch RNAs control a broad range of genes in bacterial species, including those involved in metabolism or uptake of amino acids, cofactors, nucleotides, and metal ions. Regulation occurs as a consequence of direct binding of an effector molecule, or through sensing of a physical parameter such as temperature. Here we review the global role of riboswitch RNAs in bacterial cell metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. henkin.3@osu.edu
authors.forename: Tina M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Henkin
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012329:RNA, Bacterial