Translational control and Rho-dependent transcription termination are intimately linked in riboswitch regulation.

ABSTRACT: Riboswitches are regulatory elements that control gene expression by altering RNA structure upon the binding of specific metabolites. Although Bacillus subtilis riboswitches have been shown to control premature transcription termination, less is known about regulatory mechanisms employed by Escherichia coli riboswitches, which are predicted to regulate mostly at the level of translation initiation. Here, we present experimental evidence suggesting that the majority of known E. coli riboswitches control transcription termination by using the Rho transcription factor. In the case of the thiamin pyrophosphate-dependent thiM riboswitch, we find that Rho-dependent transcription termination is triggered as a consequence of translation repression. Using in vitro and in vivo assays, we show that t

SUBMITTER: Bastet L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5499598 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature