The T box mechanism: tRNA as a regulatory molecule.
The T box mechanism is widely used in Gram-positive bacteria to regulate expression of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase genes and genes involved in amino acid biosynthesis and uptake. Binding of a specific uncharged tRNA to a riboswitch element in the nascent transcript causes a structural change in the transcript that promotes expression of the downstream coding sequence. In most cases, this occurs by stabilization of an antiterminator element that competes with formation of a terminator helix. Specific tRNA recognition by the nascent transcript results in increased expression of genes important for tRNA aminoacylation in response to decreased pools of charged tRNA.
Green
Nicholas J
NJ
Department of Microbiology, Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Grundy
Frank J
FJ
Henkin
Tina M
TM
D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / Q000235:genetics*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D012343:RNA, Transfer; D000604:Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases