Cited by 161RNA and protein synthesis mechanismsRNA modifications and cancerDNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry

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Metabolite Recognition Principles and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Riboswitch Function

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Serganov, Alexander, Patel, Dinshaw J.·2012·Annual Review of Biophysics

DOI 10.1146/annurev-biophys-101211-113224PMC PMC4696762

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Abstract

Riboswitches are mRNA elements capable of modulating gene expression in response to specific binding by cellular metabolites. Riboswitches exert their function through the interplay of alternative ligand-free and ligand-bound conformations of the metabolite-sensing domain, which in turn modulate the formation of adjacent gene expression controlling elements. X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy have determined three-dimensional structures of virtually all the major riboswitch classes in the ligand-bound state and, for several riboswitches, in the ligand-free state. The resulting spatial topologies have demonstrated the wide diversity of riboswitch folds and revealed structural principles for specific recognition by cognate metabolites. The available three-dimensional information, supplemented by structure-guided biophysical and biochemical experimentation, has led to an improved understanding of how riboswitches fold, what RNA conformations are required for ligand recognition, and how ligand binding can be transduced into gene expression modulation. These studies have greatly facilitated the dissection of molecular mechanisms underlying riboswitch action and should in turn guide the anticipated development of tools for manipulating gene regulatory circuits.

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Authors: Serganov, A., & Patel, D. J.
Affiliations: New York University (US)
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (US)
ORCID: Serganov, Alexander
Patel, Dinshaw J.
Venue: Annual Review of Biophysics
Publisher: Annual Reviews
Published: 2012-06-09
Volume: 41
Issue: 1
Pages: 343-370
ISSN: 1936-122X (ISSN-L)
1936-1238
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-101211-113224
PMC: PMC4696762
OpenAlex: W2129215648
Cited by: 160
References: 136
Citations by year: 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 1
FWCI: 1.78
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Locations: Annual Review of Biophysics (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders: National Cancer Institute (P30CA008748)
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (P41GM066354, GM 66354, R01GM034504)
Topics: Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA modifications and cancer
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
Keywords: riboswitches, ligand binding, RNA conformational change, gene expression regulation, RNA folding, ligand-free state, ligand-bound state, riboswitch structure, RNA-ligand interactions, gene regulatory circuits
MeSH terms: Bacteria, Ligands, Nucleic Acid Conformation, RNA, Messenger, Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial, Crystallography, X-Ray, Riboswitch

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Metabolite Recognition Principles and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Riboswitch Function

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