Stoddard Colby D, Batey Robert T
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Campus Box 215, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0215, USA.
ACS Chem Biol. 2006 Dec 15;1(12):751-4. doi: 10.1021/cb600458w.
Riboswitches are noncoding RNA elements found in the 5'-untranslated region of messenger RNA (mRNA) that mediate gene expression in a cis fashion in the absence of protein. This common regulatory strategy in bacteria is achieved through the interplay of two distinct domains: an aptamer domain responsible for sensing intracellular concentrations of a specific metabolite and a domain containing a secondary structural switch directly controlling expression. In a recent study, riboswitches have been discovered that are capable of regulating transcription by using an RNA architecture mimicking a Boolean NOR logic gate. Tandem arrangement of elements that recognize S-adenosylmethionine and coenzyme B12 yields an mRNA that is only expressed when both metabolites are in low concentration in the cell.
核糖开关是在信使核糖核酸（mRNA）的5'非翻译区发现的非编码RNA元件，在没有蛋白质的情况下以顺式方式介导基因表达。细菌中的这种常见调控策略是通过两个不同结构域的相互作用实现的：一个适体结构域负责感知特定代谢物的细胞内浓度，另一个结构域包含直接控制表达的二级结构开关。在最近的一项研究中，发现了能够通过使用模仿布尔或非逻辑门的RNA结构来调节转录的核糖开关。识别S-腺苷甲硫氨酸和辅酶B12的元件串联排列产生一种mRNA，只有当两种代谢物在细胞中都处于低浓度时才会表达。
