Bioinformatic analysis of riboswitch structures uncovers variant classes with altered ligand specificity.

ABSTRACT: Riboswitches are RNAs that form complex, folded structures that selectively bind small molecules or ions. As with certain groups of protein enzymes and receptors, some riboswitch classes have evolved to change their ligand specificity. We developed a procedure to systematically analyze known riboswitch classes to find additional variants that have altered their ligand specificity. This approach uses multiple-sequence alignments, atomic-resolution structural information, and riboswitch gene associations. Among the discoveries are unique variants of the guanine riboswitch class that most tightly bind the nucleoside 2'-deoxyguanosine. In addition, we identified variants of the glycine riboswitch class that no longer recognize this amino acid, additional members of a rare flavin mononucleotide

SUBMITTER: Weinberg Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5358364 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature