Trans-acting glmS catalytic riboswitch: locked and loaded.

ABSTRACT: A recently discovered class of gene regulatory RNAs, coined riboswitches, are commonly found in noncoding segments of bacterial and some eukaryotic mRNAs. Gene up- or down-regulation is triggered by binding of a small organic metabolite, which typically induces an RNA conformational change. Unique among these noncoding RNAs is the glmS catalytic riboswitch, or ribozyme, found in the 5'-untranslated region of the glmS gene in Gram-positive bacteria. It is activated by glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN6P), leading to site-specific backbone cleavage of the mRNA and subsequent repression of the glmS gene, responsible for cellular GlcN6P production. Recent biochemical and structural evidence suggests that the GlcN6P ligand acts as a coenzyme and participates in the cleavage reaction without inducin

SUBMITTER: Tinsley RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1831870 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature