Structural basis of cooperative ligand binding by the glycine riboswitch.

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Source:

Chem Biol, Volume 18, Issue 3, p.293-8 (2011)

Keywords:

Aptamers, Nucleotide, Binding Sites, Gene Expression Regulation, Glycine, Ligands, Nucleic Acid Conformation, Riboswitch, RNA

Abstract:

<p>The glycine riboswitch regulates gene expression through the cooperative recognition of its amino acid ligand by a tandem pair of aptamers. A 3.6 Å crystal structure of the tandem riboswitch from the glycine permease operon of Fusobacterium nucleatum reveals the glycine binding sites and an extensive network of interactions, largely mediated by asymmetric A-minor contacts, that serve to communicate ligand binding status between the aptamers. These interactions provide a structural basis for how the glycine riboswitch cooperatively regulates gene expression.</p>