Soukup G A, Breaker R R
Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8103, USA.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Mar 30;96(7):3584-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.96.7.3584.
Ligand-specific molecular switches composed of RNA were created by coupling preexisting catalytic and receptor domains via structural bridges. Binding of ligand to the receptor triggers a conformational change within the bridge, and this structural reorganization dictates the activity of the adjoining ribozyme. The modular nature of these tripartite constructs makes possible the rapid construction of precision RNA molecular switches that trigger only in the presence of their corresponding ligand. By using similar enzyme engineering strategies, new RNA switches can be made to operate as designer molecular sensors or as a new class of genetic control elements.
通过结构桥将预先存在的催化结构域和受体结构域偶联,构建了由RNA组成的配体特异性分子开关。配体与受体的结合触发桥内的构象变化,这种结构重组决定了相邻核酶的活性。这些三方构建体的模块化性质使得快速构建仅在其相应配体存在时才触发的精密RNA分子开关成为可能。通过使用类似的酶工程策略,可以使新的RNA开关作为定制分子传感器或作为一类新的基因控制元件发挥作用。