Natural mRNA Genetic Switches that Bind Metabolites

描述(由申请人提供)： 信使RNA通常被认为是遗传信息的被动载体，在翻译过程中受到蛋白质或小RNA调节因子和核糖体的作用。最近，我们发现大量原核生物mRNAs的5‘端非翻译序列在代谢监测和遗传控制中具有更积极的作用。这些核糖核酸可以作为代谢物感应的遗传开关(称为“核糖开关”)，选择性地与效应分子结合，而不需要蛋白质。MRNA和代谢物之间的结合事件建立了一个独特的RNA结构，在某些情况下负责抑制核糖体结合，在另一些情况下负责诱导转录终止。这些和相关的发现支持我们的假设，即通过RNA-代谢物相互作用进行代谢监测是一种广泛的遗传控制机制。我们打算探索FMN敏感核糖开关的结构和功能特征，目的是建立核糖开关功能的基本原理。这些发现将有助于发现新的核糖开关，并将为基于RNA的设计基因控制元件的产生提供坚实的基础。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Messenger RNAs are typically thought of as passive carriers of genetic information that are acted upon by protein or small RNA-regulatory factors and by ribosomes during the process of translation. Recently, we have found that the 5'-untranslated sequences of numerous prokaryote mRNAs assume a more proactive role in metabolic monitoring and genetic control. The mRNAs serve as metabolite-sensing genetic switches (called "riboswitches") that selectively binding to effector molecules without the need for proteins. The binding event between mRNA and metabolite establishes a distinct RNA structure that, in certain cases is responsible for inhibition of ribosome binding, and in other cases is responsible for inducing transcription termination. These and related findings support our hypothesis that metabolic monitoring through RNA-metabolite interactions is a widespread mechanism of genetic control. We propose to explore the structural and functional characteristics of an FMN-sensing riboswitch with the aim of establishing the basic principles of riboswitch function. These findings will aid in the discovery of new riboswitches and will provide a solid foundation for the generation of designer genetic control elements based on RNA.