Engineering precision RNA molecular switches

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Mar 30;96(7):3584-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.96.7.3584.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allosteric Regulation
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA / chemical synthesis
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA Primers / chemical synthesis
  • DNA Primers / chemistry
  • Flavin Mononucleotide / metabolism
  • Flavin Mononucleotide / pharmacology
  • Kinetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation*
  • Oligoribonucleotides / chemical synthesis
  • Oligoribonucleotides / chemistry
  • RNA / chemistry*
  • RNA, Catalytic / chemistry*
  • RNA, Catalytic / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Theophylline / pharmacology

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Oligoribonucleotides
  • RNA, Catalytic
  • RNA
  • Flavin Mononucleotide
  • DNA
  • Theophylline