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Yu LED, White EN, Woodson SA. Optimized periphery-core interface increases fitness of the Bacillus subtilisglmS ribozyme. Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae830. [PMID: 39319588 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 09/04/2024] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Like other functional RNAs, ribozymes encode a conserved catalytic center supported by peripheral domains that vary among ribozyme sub-families. To understand how core-periphery interactions contribute to ribozyme fitness, we compared the cleavage kinetics of all single base substitutions at 152 sites across the Bacillus subtilis glmS ribozyme by high-throughput sequencing (k-seq). The in vitro activity map mirrored phylogenetic sequence conservation in glmS ribozymes, indicating that biological fitness reports all biochemically important positions. The k-seq results and folding assays showed that most deleterious mutations lower activity by impairing ribozyme self-assembly. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations of the complete ribozyme revealed how individual mutations in the core or the IL4 peripheral loop introduce a non-native tertiary interface that rewires the catalytic center, eliminating activity. We conclude that the need to avoid non-native helix packing powerfully constrains the evolution of tertiary structure motifs in RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Eng D Yu
- Program in Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology and Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Elise N White
- Program in Molecular Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Sarah A Woodson
- T.C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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2
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Wu Y, Zhu L, Zhang Y, Xu W. Multidimensional Applications and Challenges of Riboswitches in Biosensing and Biotherapy. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2304852. [PMID: 37658499 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Riboswitches have received significant attention over the last two decades for their multiple functionalities and great potential for applications in various fields. This article highlights and reviews the recent advances in biosensing and biotherapy. These fields involve a wide range of applications, such as food safety detection, environmental monitoring, metabolic engineering, live cell imaging, wearable biosensors, antibacterial drug targets, and gene therapy. The discovery, origin, and optimization of riboswitches are summarized to help readers better understand their multidimensional applications. Finally, this review discusses the multidimensional challenges and development of riboswitches in order to further expand their potential for novel applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Beijing Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Longjiao Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Beijing Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yangzi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Beijing Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Wentao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Beijing Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100191, China
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3
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Najeh S, Zandi K, Kharma N, Perreault J. Computational design and experimental verification of pseudoknotted ribozymes. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:764-776. [PMID: 36868786 PMCID: PMC10187678 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079148.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The design of new RNA sequences that retain the function of a model RNA structure is a challenge in bioinformatics because of the structural complexity of these molecules. RNA can fold into its secondary and tertiary structures by forming stem-loops and pseudoknots. A pseudoknot is a set of base pairs between a region within a stem-loop and nucleotides outside of this stem-loop; this motif is very important for numerous functional structures. It is important for any computational design algorithm to take into account these interactions to give a reliable result for any structures that include pseudoknots. In our study, we experimentally validated synthetic ribozymes designed by Enzymer, which implements algorithms allowing for the design of pseudoknots. Enzymer is a program that uses an inverse folding approach to design pseudoknotted RNAs; we used it in this study to design two types of ribozymes. The ribozymes tested were the hammerhead and the glmS, which have a self-cleaving activity that allows them to liberate the new RNA genome copy during rolling-circle replication or to control the expression of the downstream genes, respectively. We demonstrated the efficiency of Enzymer by showing that the pseudoknotted hammerhead and glmS ribozymes sequences it designed were extensively modified compared to wild-type sequences and were still active.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrine Najeh
- INRS - Institut Armand-Frappier, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Kasra Zandi
- Software Engineering and Computer Science Department, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Nawwaf Kharma
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1M8, Canada
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4
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Yin G, Peng A, Zhang L, Wang Y, Du G, Chen J, Kang Z. Design of artificial small regulatory trans-RNA for gene knockdown in Bacillus subtilis. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2022; 8:61-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2022.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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5
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Peng H, Latifi B, Müller S, Lupták A, Chen IA. Self-cleaving ribozymes: substrate specificity and synthetic biology applications. RSC Chem Biol 2021; 2:1370-1383. [PMID: 34704043 PMCID: PMC8495972 DOI: 10.1039/d0cb00207k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Various self-cleaving ribozymes appearing in nature catalyze the sequence-specific intramolecular cleavage of RNA and can be engineered to catalyze cleavage of appropriate substrates in an intermolecular fashion, thus acting as true catalysts. The mechanisms of the small, self-cleaving ribozymes have been extensively studied and reviewed previously. Self-cleaving ribozymes can possess high catalytic activity and high substrate specificity; however, substrate specificity is also engineerable within the constraints of the ribozyme structure. While these ribozymes share a common fundamental catalytic mechanism, each ribozyme family has a unique overall architecture and active site organization, indicating that several distinct structures yield this chemical activity. The multitude of catalytic structures, combined with some flexibility in substrate specificity within each family, suggests that such catalytic RNAs, taken together, could access a wide variety of substrates. Here, we give an overview of 10 classes of self-cleaving ribozymes and capture what is understood about their substrate specificity and synthetic applications. Evolution of these ribozymes in an RNA world might be characterized by the emergence of a new ribozyme family followed by rapid adaptation or diversification for specific substrates. Self-cleaving ribozymes have become important tools of synthetic biology. Here we summarize the substrate specificity and applications of the main classes of these ribozymes.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Peng
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Los Angeles CA 90095 USA
| | - Brandon Latifi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine CA 92697 USA
| | - Sabine Müller
- Institute for Biochemistry, University Greifswald 17487 Greifswald Germany
| | - Andrej Lupták
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine CA 92697 USA
| | - Irene A Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Los Angeles CA 90095 USA
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6
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Nakashima Y, Shiiyama N, Urabe T, Yamashita H, Yasuda S, Igoshi K, Kinoshita H. Functions of small RNAs in Lactobacillus casei-Pediococcus group of lactic acid bacteria using fragment analysis. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2021; 367:5928547. [PMID: 33068404 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnaa154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Small RNAs (sRNA) are non-cording RNAs composed of 50∼400 nt responsible for coordinating the adaption of Escherichia coli and other bacteria to changing environmental conditions, including pH and temperature. However, the role of sRNAs in lactic acid bacteria (LAB) has not yet been clarified. In this study, we used the Lactobacillus casei-Pediococcus group to evaluate the function of sRNAs in LAB, using RNA sequencing in the exponential growth phase and stationary phase to map and analyze sRNA fragments, which were categorized as Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactobacillus paracasei. We evaluated the role of sRNAs in nutrient synthesis for cell growth in exponential growth phase and in protein and biofilm biosynthesis for cell body durability. During exponential growth, the sRNA fragments were found to be involved in the stress response in Pediococcus pentosaceus and in environmental adaption in Lactobacillus paracasei. The results suggest that the function of sRNA can be characterized from sRNA fragments using RNA sequencing during the exponential growth and stationary phases in Lactobacillus casei-Pediococcus group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Nakashima
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokai University, 9-1-1 Toroku, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Narumi Shiiyama
- Department of Bioscience, School of Agriculture, Tokai University, 9-1-1 Toroku, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Taihei Urabe
- Department of Bioscience, School of Agriculture, Tokai University, 9-1-1 Toroku, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hideji Yamashita
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokai University, 9-1-1 Toroku, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto, Japan.,Department of Bioscience, School of Agriculture, Tokai University, 9-1-1 Toroku, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Shin Yasuda
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokai University, 9-1-1 Toroku, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto, Japan.,Department of Bioscience, School of Agriculture, Tokai University, 9-1-1 Toroku, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Keiji Igoshi
- Department of Bioscience, School of Agriculture, Tokai University, 9-1-1 Toroku, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hideki Kinoshita
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokai University, 9-1-1 Toroku, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto, Japan.,Department of Bioscience, School of Agriculture, Tokai University, 9-1-1 Toroku, Higashi-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto, Japan
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7
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Aptamers, Riboswitches, and Ribozymes in S. cerevisiae Synthetic Biology. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11030248. [PMID: 33802772 PMCID: PMC8002509 DOI: 10.3390/life11030248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Among noncoding RNA sequences, riboswitches and ribozymes have attracted the attention of the synthetic biology community as circuit components for translation regulation. When fused to aptamer sequences, ribozymes and riboswitches are enabled to interact with chemicals. Therefore, protein synthesis can be controlled at the mRNA level without the need for transcription factors. Potentially, the use of chemical-responsive ribozymes/riboswitches would drastically simplify the design of genetic circuits. In this review, we describe synthetic RNA structures that have been used so far in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We present their interaction mode with different chemicals (e.g., theophylline and antibiotics) or proteins (such as the RNase III) and their recent employment into clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats–CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas) systems. Particular attention is paid, throughout the whole paper, to their usage and performance into synthetic gene circuits.
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8
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Jain S, Kaur J, Prasad S, Roy I. Nucleic acid therapeutics: a focus on the development of aptamers. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2020; 16:255-274. [PMID: 32990095 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2021.1829587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Aptamers provide exciting opportunities for the development of specific and targeted therapeutic approaches. AREAS COVERED In this review, the authors discuss different therapeutic options available with nucleic acids, including aptamers, focussing on similarities and differences between them. The authors concentrate on case studies with specific aptamers, which exemplify their distinct advantages. The reasons for failure, wherever available, are deliberated upon. Attempts to accelerate the in vitro selection process have been discussed. Challenges with aptamers in terms of their specificity and targeted delivery and strategies to overcome these are described. Examples of precise regulation of systemic half-life of aptamers using antidotes are discussed. EXPERT OPINION Despite their nontoxic nature, a variety of reasons limit the therapeutic potential of aptamers in the clinic. The analysis of adverse effects observed with the pegnivacogin/anivamersen pair has highlighted the need to screen for preexisting PEG antibodies in any clinical trial involving pegylated molecules. Surprisingly, and promisingly, the ability of nucleic acid therapeutics to breach the blood brain barrier seems achievable. The recognition of specific motifs, e.g. G-quadruplex in thrombin-binding aptamers, or a 'nucleation' zone while designing aptamer-antidote pairs, is likely to accelerate the discovery of therapeutically efficacious molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Jain
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Punjab, India
| | - Jaskirat Kaur
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Punjab, India
| | - Shivcharan Prasad
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Punjab, India
| | - Ipsita Roy
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Punjab, India
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9
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Xiao L, Habibian M, Kool ET. Site-Selective RNA Functionalization via DNA-Induced Structure. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:16357-16363. [PMID: 32865995 PMCID: PMC7962339 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c06824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Methods for RNA functionalization at specific sites are in high demand but remain a challenge, particularly for RNAs produced by transcription rather than by total synthesis. Recent studies have described acylimidazole reagents that react in high yields at 2'-OH groups stochastically at nonbase-paired regions, covering much of the RNA in scattered acyl esters. Localized reactions, if possible, could prove useful in many applications, providing functional handles at specific sites and sequences of the biopolymer. Here, we describe a DNA-directed strategy for in vitro functionalization of RNA at site-localized 2'-OH groups. The method, RNA Acylation at Induced Loops (RAIL), utilizes complementary helper DNA oligonucleotides that expose gaps or loops at selected positions while protecting the remainder in DNA-RNA duplexes. Reaction with an acylimidazole reagent is then carried out, providing high yields of 2'-OH conjugation at predetermined sites. Experiments reveal optimal helper oligodeoxynucleotide designs and conditions for the reaction, and tests of the approach are carried out to control localized ribozyme activities and to label RNAs with dual-color fluorescent dyes. The RAIL approach offers a simple and novel strategy for site-selective labeling and control of RNAs, potentially of any length and origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, ChEM-H Institute and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Maryam Habibian
- Department of Chemistry, ChEM-H Institute and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Eric T. Kool
- Department of Chemistry, ChEM-H Institute and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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10
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Andreasson JOL, Savinov A, Block SM, Greenleaf WJ. Comprehensive sequence-to-function mapping of cofactor-dependent RNA catalysis in the glmS ribozyme. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1663. [PMID: 32245964 PMCID: PMC7125110 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15540-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Massively parallel, quantitative measurements of biomolecular activity across sequence space can greatly expand our understanding of RNA sequence-function relationships. We report the development of an RNA-array assay to perform such measurements and its application to a model RNA: the core glmS ribozyme riboswitch, which performs a ligand-dependent self-cleavage reaction. We measure the cleavage rates for all possible single and double mutants of this ribozyme across a series of ligand concentrations, determining kcat and KM values for active variants. These systematic measurements suggest that evolutionary conservation in the consensus sequence is driven by maintenance of the cleavage rate. Analysis of double-mutant rates and associated mutational interactions produces a structural and functional mapping of the ribozyme sequence, revealing the catalytic consequences of specific tertiary interactions, and allowing us to infer structural rearrangements that permit certain sequence variants to maintain activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan O L Andreasson
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Andrew Savinov
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Steven M Block
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - William J Greenleaf
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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11
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Catalytic RNA, ribozyme, and its applications in synthetic biology. Biotechnol Adv 2019; 37:107452. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2019.107452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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12
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Strobel EJ, Cheng L, Berman KE, Carlson PD, Lucks JB. A ligand-gated strand displacement mechanism for ZTP riboswitch transcription control. Nat Chem Biol 2019; 15:1067-1076. [PMID: 31636437 PMCID: PMC6814202 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-019-0382-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Cotranscriptional folding is an obligate step of RNA biogenesis that can guide RNA structure formation and function through transient intermediate folds. This process is particularly important for transcriptional riboswitches in which the formation of ligand-dependent structures during transcription regulates downstream gene expression. However, the intermediate structures that comprise cotranscriptional RNA folding pathways, and the mechanisms that enable transit between them, remain largely unknown. Here, we determine the series of cotranscriptional folds and rearrangements that mediate antitermination by the Clostridium beijerinckii pfl ZTP riboswitch in response to the purine biosynthetic intermediate ZMP. We uncover sequence and structural determinants that modulate an internal RNA strand displacement process and identify biases within natural ZTP riboswitch sequences that promote on-pathway folding. Our findings establish a mechanism for pfl riboswitch antitermination and suggest general strategies by which nascent RNA molecules navigate cotranscriptional folding pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Strobel
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
| | - Luyi Cheng
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Katherine E Berman
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Paul D Carlson
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Julius B Lucks
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
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