Prospects for riboswitch discovery and analysis

RNA systems biology: uniting functional discoveries and structural tools to understand global roles of RNAs

RNAs assume sophisticated structures that are active in myriad cellular processes. In this review, we highlight newly identified ribozymes, riboswitches, and small RNAs, some of which control the function of cellular metabolic and gene expression networks. We then examine recent developments in genome-wide RNA structure probing technologies that are yielding new insights into the structural landscape of the transcriptome. Finally, we discuss how these RNA 'structomic' methods can address emerging questions in RNA systems biology, from the mechanisms behind long non-coding RNAs to new bases for human diseases.

Bacterial riboswitches cooperatively bind Ni(2+) or Co(2+) ions and control expression of heavy metal transporters

Bacteria regularly encounter widely varying metal concentrations in their surrounding environment. As metals become depleted or, conversely, accrue to toxicity, microbes will activate cellular responses that act to maintain metal homeostasis. A suite of metal-sensing regulatory ("metalloregulatory") proteins orchestrate these responses by allosterically coupling the selective binding of target metals to the activity of DNA-binding domains. However, we report here the discovery, validation, and structural details of a widespread class of riboswitch RNAs, whose members selectively and tightly bind the low-abundance transition metals, Ni(2+) and Co(2+). These riboswitches bind metal cooperatively, and with affinities in the low micromolar range. The structure of a Co(2+)-bound RNA reveals a network of molecular contacts that explains how it achieves cooperative binding between adjacent sites. These findings reveal that bacteria have evolved to utilize highly selective metalloregulatory riboswitches, in addition to metalloregulatory proteins, for detecting and responding to toxic levels of heavy metals.

Mn(2+)-sensing mechanisms of yybP-ykoY orphan riboswitches

Gene regulation in cis by riboswitches is prevalent in bacteria. The yybP-ykoY riboswitch family is quite widespread, yet its ligand and function remained unknown. Here, we characterize the Lactococcus lactis yybP-ykoY orphan riboswitch as a Mn(2+)-dependent transcription-ON riboswitch, with a ∼30-40 μM affinity for Mn(2+). We further determined its crystal structure at 2.7 Å to elucidate the metal sensing mechanism. The riboswitch resembles a hairpin, with two coaxially stacked helices tethered by a four-way junction and a tertiary docking interface. The Mn(2+)-sensing region, strategically located at the highly conserved docking interface, has two metal binding sites. Whereas one site tolerates the binding of either Mg(2+) or Mn(2+), the other site strongly prefers Mn(2+) due to a direct contact from the N7 of an invariable adenosine. Mutagenesis and a Mn(2+)-free E. coli yybP-ykoY structure further reveal that Mn(2+) binding is coupled with stabilization of the Mn(2+)-sensing region and the aptamer domain.

The ubiquitous yybP-ykoY riboswitch is a manganese-responsive regulatory element

The highly structured, cis-encoded RNA elements known as riboswitches modify gene expression upon binding a wide range of molecules. The yybP-ykoY motif was one of the most broadly distributed and numerous bacterial riboswitches for which the cognate ligand was unknown. Using a combination of in vivo reporter and in vitro expression assays, equilibrium dialysis, and northern analysis, we show that the yybP-ykoY motif responds directly to manganese ions in both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. The identification of the yybP-ykoY motif as a manganese ion sensor suggests that the genes that are preceded by this motif and encode a diverse set of poorly characterized membrane proteins have roles in metal homeostasis.

RNA folding with hard and soft constraints

Background

A large class of RNA secondary structure prediction programs uses an elaborate energy model grounded in extensive thermodynamic measurements and exact dynamic programming algorithms. External experimental evidence can be in principle be incorporated by means of hard constraints that restrict the search space or by means of soft constraints that distort the energy model. In particular recent advances in coupling chemical and enzymatic probing with sequencing techniques but also comparative approaches provide an increasing amount of experimental data to be combined with secondary structure prediction.

Results

Responding to the increasing needs for a versatile and user-friendly inclusion of external evidence into diverse flavors of RNA secondary structure prediction tools we implemented a generic layer of constraint handling into the ViennaRNA Package. It makes explicit use of the conceptual separation of the “folding grammar” defining the search space and the actual energy evaluation, which allows constraints to be interleaved in a natural way between recursion steps and evaluation of the standard energy function.

Conclusions

The extension of the ViennaRNA Package provides a generic way to include diverse types of constraints into RNA folding algorithms. The computational overhead incurred is negligible in practice. A wide variety of application scenarios can be accommodated by the new framework, including the incorporation of structure probing data, non-standard base pairs and chemical modifications, as well as structure-dependent ligand binding.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13015-016-0070-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Developing Fluorogenic Riboswitches for Imaging Metabolite Concentration Dynamics in Bacterial Cells

Genetically encoded small-molecule sensors are important tools for revealing the dynamics of metabolites and other small molecules in live cells over time. We recently developed RNA-based sensors that exhibit fluorescence in proportion to a small-molecule ligand. One class of these RNA-based sensors are termed Spinach riboswitches. These are RNAs that are based on naturally occurring riboswitches, but have been fused to the Spinach aptamer. The resulting RNA is a fluorogenic riboswitch, producing fluorescence upon binding the cognate small-molecule analyte. Here, we describe how to design and optimize these sensors by adjusting critical sequence elements, guided by structural insights from the Spinach aptamer. We provide a stepwise procedure to characterize sensors in vitro and to express sensors in bacteria for live-cell imaging of metabolites. Spinach riboswitch sensors offer a simple method for fluorescence measurement of a wide range of metabolites for which riboswitches exist, including nucleotides and their derivatives, amino acids, cofactors, cations, and anions.

Bacterial Riboswitches and Ribozymes Potently Activate the Human Innate Immune Sensor PKR

The innate immune system provides the first line of defense against pathogens through the recognition of nonspecific patterns in RNA to protect the cell in a generalized way. The human RNA-activated protein kinase, PKR, is a dsRNA binding protein and an essential sensor in the innate immune response, which recognizes viral and bacterial pathogens through their RNAs. Upon activation via RNA-dependent autophosphorylation, PKR phosphorylates the eukaryotic initiation factor eIF2α, leading to termination of translation. PKR has a well-characterized role in recognizing viral RNA, where it binds long stretches of double-stranded RNA nonsequence specifically to promote activation; however, the mechanism by which bacterial RNA activates PKR and the mode by which self RNA avoids activating PKR are unknown. We characterized activation of PKR by three functional bacterial RNAs with pseudoknots and extensive tertiary structure: the cyclic di-GMP riboswitch, the glmS riboswitch-ribozyme, and the twister ribozyme, two of which are ligand-activated. These RNAs were found to activate PKR with comparable potency to long dsRNA. Enzymatic structure mapping in the absence and presence of PKR reveals a clear PKR footprint and provides a structural basis for how these bacterial RNAs activate PKR. In the case of the cyclic di-GMP riboswitch and the glmS riboswitch-ribozyme, PKR appears to dimerize on the peripheral double-stranded regions of the native RNA tertiary structure. Overall, these results provide new insights into how PKR acts as an innate immune signaling protein for the presence of bacteria and suggest a reason for the apparent absence of protein-free riboswitches and ribozymes in the human genome.

Rewiring Riboswitches to Create New Genetic Circuits in Bacteria

Riboswitches are RNA elements that control the expression of genes through a variety of mechanisms in response to the specific binding of small-molecule ligands. Since their discovery, riboswitches have shown promise for the artificial control of transcription or translation of target genes, be it for industrial biotechnology, protein expression, metabolic engineering, antimicrobial target validation, or gene function discovery. However, natural riboswitches are often unsuitable for these purposes due to their regulation by small molecules which are already present within the cell. For this reason, research has focused on creating riboswitches that respond to alternative biologically inert ligands or to molecules which are of interest for biosensing. Here we present methods for the development of artificial riboswitches in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. These methods are based on reengineering natural aptamers to change their ligand specificity toward molecules which do not bind the original aptamer (ie, that are orthogonal to the original). The first approach involves targeted mutagenesis of native riboswitches to change their specificity toward rationally designed synthetic ligand analogs. The second approach involves the fusion of previously validated orthogonal aptamers with native expression platforms to create novel chimeric riboswitches for the microbial target. We establish the applicability of these methods both for the control of exogenous genes as well as for the control of native genes.

The yjdF riboswitch candidate regulates gene expression by binding diverse azaaromatic compounds

The yjdF motif RNA is an orphan riboswitch candidate that almost exclusively associates with the yjdF protein-coding gene in many bacteria. The function of the YjdF protein is unknown, which has made speculation regarding the natural ligand for this putative riboswitch unusually challenging. By using a structure-probing assay for ligand binding, we found that a surprisingly broad diversity of nitrogen-containing aromatic heterocycles, or "azaaromatics," trigger near-identical changes in the structures adopted by representative yjdF motif RNAs. Regions of the RNA that undergo ligand-induced structural modulation reside primarily in portions of the putative aptamer region that are highly conserved in nucleotide sequence, as is typical for riboswitches. Some azaaromatic molecules are bound by the RNA with nanomolar dissociation constants, and a subset of these ligands activate riboswitch-mediated gene expression in cells. Furthermore, genetic elements most commonly adjacent to the yjdF motif RNA or to the yjdF protein-coding region are homologous to protein regulators implicated in mitigating the toxic effects of diverse phenolic acids or polycyclic compounds. Although the precise type of natural ligand sensed by yjdF motif RNAs remains unknown, our findings suggest that this riboswitch class might serve as part of a genetic response system to toxic or signaling compounds with chemical structures similar to azaaromatics.

Mutational analysis of structural elements in a class-I cyclic di-GMP riboswitch to elucidate its regulatory mechanism

The Vc2 riboswitch possesses an aptamer domain belonging to the class-I c-di-GMP riboswitch family. This domain has been analysed and the molecular mechanism by which it recognizes the c-di-GMP ligand has been elucidated. On the other hand, the regulatory mechanism of the full-length Vc2 riboswitch to control its downstream open reading frame (ORF) remains largely unknown. In this study, we performed in vivo reporter assays and in vitro biochemical analyses of the full-length riboswitch and its aptamer domain. We evaluated the results of in vivo and in vitro analyses to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of the Vc2 riboswitch. The present results suggest that recognition of c-di-GMP ligand by the Vc2 riboswitch aptamer domain downregulates expression of its downstream ORF primarily at the translational level.

Conformational Rearrangements of Individual Nucleotides during RNA-Ligand Binding Are Rate-Differentiated

A pronounced rate differentiation has been found for conformational rearrangements of individual nucleobases that occur during ligand recognition of the preQ1 class-I riboswitch aptamer from Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis. Rate measurements rely on the 2ApFold approach by analyzing the fluorescence response of riboswitch variants, each with a single, strategically positioned 2-aminopurine nucleobase substitution. Observed rate discrimination between the fastest and the slowest conformational adaption is 22-fold, with the largest rate observed for the rearrangement of a nucleoside directly at the binding site and the smallest rate observed for the 3'-unpaired nucleoside that stacks onto the pseudo-knot-closing Watson-Crick base pair. Our findings provide novel insights into how compact, prefolded RNAs that follow the induced-fit recognition mechanism adapt local structural elements in response to ligand binding on a rather broad time scale and how this process culminates in a structural signal that is responsible for efficient downregulation of ribosomal translation.

Optimization of RNA-based c-di-GMP fluorescent sensors through tuning their structural modules

Cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) is a second messenger of bacteria and its detection is an important issue in basic and applied microbiology. As c-di-GMP riboswitch ligand-binding domains (aptamer domains) capture c-di-GMP with high affinity and selectivity, they are promising platforms for the development of RNA-based c-di-GMP sensors. We analyzed two previously reported c-di-GMP sensor RNAs derived from the Vc2 riboswitch. We also designed and tested their variants, some of which showed improved properties as RNA-based c-di-GMP sensors.

Transcriptome landscape of Lactococcus lactis reveals many novel RNAs including a small regulatory RNA involved in carbon uptake and metabolism

RNA sequencing has revolutionized genome-wide transcriptome analyses, and the identification of non-coding regulatory RNAs in bacteria has thus increased concurrently. Here we reveal the transcriptome map of the lactic acid bacterial paradigm Lactococcus lactis MG1363 by employing differential RNA sequencing (dRNA-seq) and a combination of manual and automated transcriptome mining. This resulted in a high-resolution genome annotation of L. lactis and the identification of 60 cis-encoded antisense RNAs (asRNAs), 186 trans-encoded putative regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) and 134 novel small ORFs. Based on the putative targets of asRNAs, a novel classification is proposed. Several transcription factor DNA binding motifs were identified in the promoter sequences of (a)sRNAs, providing insight in the interplay between lactococcal regulatory RNAs and transcription factors. The presence and lengths of 14 putative sRNAs were experimentally confirmed by differential Northern hybridization, including the abundant RNA 6S that is differentially expressed depending on the available carbon source. For another sRNA, LLMGnc_147, functional analysis revealed that it is involved in carbon uptake and metabolism. L. lactis contains 13% leaderless mRNAs (lmRNAs) that, from an analysis of overrepresentation in GO classes, seem predominantly involved in nucleotide metabolism and DNA/RNA binding. Moreover, an A-rich sequence motif immediately following the start codon was uncovered, which could provide novel insight in the translation of lmRNAs. Altogether, this first experimental genome-wide assessment of the transcriptome landscape of L. lactis and subsequent sRNA studies provide an extensive basis for the investigation of regulatory RNAs in L. lactis and related lactococcal species.

Characterization of a natural triple-tandem c-di-GMP riboswitch and application of the riboswitch-based dual-fluorescence reporter

c-di-GMP riboswitches are structured RNAs located in the 5'-untranslated regions (5'-UTRs) of mRNAs that regulate expression of downstream genes in response to changing concentrations of the second messenger c-di-GMP. We discovered three complete c-di-GMP riboswitches (Bc3, Bc4 and Bc5 RNA) with similar structures, which are arranged in tandem to constitute a triple-tandem (Bc3-5 RNA) riboswitch in the 5'-UTR of the cspABCDE mRNA in Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. chinensis CT-43. Our results showed that this natural triple-tandem riboswitch controlled the expression of the reporter gene more stringently and digitally than the double-tandem or single riboswitch. A sandwich-like dual-fluorescence reporter was further constructed by fusing the Bc3-5 RNA gene between the two fluorescence protein genes amcyan and turborfp. This reporter strain was found to exhibit detectable fluorescence color changes under bright field in response to intracellular c-di-GMP level altered by induced expression of diguanylate cyclase (DGC) PleD. Using this system, two putative membrane-bound DGCs from B. thuringiensis and Xanthomonas oryzae were verified to be functional by replacing pleD with the corresponding DGC genes. This report represented the first native triple-tandem riboswitch that was applied to serve as a riboswitch-based dual-fluorescence reporter for the efficient and convenient verification of putative DGC activity in vivo.

Small molecule fluoride toxicity agonists

Fluoride is a ubiquitous anion that inhibits a wide variety of metabolic processes. Here, we report the identification of a series of compounds that enhance fluoride toxicity in Escherichia coli and Streptococcus mutans. These molecules were isolated by using a high-throughput screen (HTS) for compounds that increase intracellular fluoride levels as determined via a fluoride riboswitch reporter fusion construct. A series of derivatives were synthesized to examine structure-activity relationships, leading to the identification of compounds with improved activity. Thus, we demonstrate that small molecule fluoride toxicity agonists can be identified by HTS from existing chemical libraries by exploiting a natural fluoride riboswitch. In addition, our findings suggest that some molecules might be further optimized to function as binary antibacterial agents when combined with fluoride.

SAM-II Riboswitch Samples at least Two Conformations in Solution in the Absence of Ligand: Implications for Recognition

Conformational equilibria are increasingly recognized as pivotal for biological function. Traditional structural analyses provide a static image of conformers in solution that sometimes present conflicting views. From (13) C and (1) H chemical exchange saturation transfer experiments, in concert with ligation and selective labeling strategies, we show that in the absence of metabolite, a Mg(2+) (0-0.5 mm)-bound apo SAM-II riboswitch RNA exists in a minor (≈10 %) partially closed state that rapidly exchanges with a predominantly (≈90 %) open form with a lifetime of ≈32 ms. The base and sugar (H6,C6, H1',C1') chemical shifts of C43 for the dominant conformer are similar to those of a free CMP, but those of the minor apo species are comparable to shifts of CMPs in helical RNA regions. Our results suggest that these transient, low populated states stabilized by Mg(2+) will likely enhance rapid ligand recognition and, we anticipate, will play potentially ubiquitous roles in RNA signaling.

The Shine-Dalgarno sequence of riboswitch-regulated single mRNAs shows ligand-dependent accessibility bursts

In response to intracellular signals in Gram-negative bacteria, translational riboswitches—commonly embedded in messenger RNAs (mRNAs)—regulate gene expression through inhibition of translation initiation. It is generally thought that this regulation originates from occlusion of the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence upon ligand binding; however, little direct evidence exists. Here we develop Single Molecule Kinetic Analysis of RNA Transient Structure (SiM-KARTS) to investigate the ligand-dependent accessibility of the SD sequence of an mRNA hosting the 7-aminomethyl-7-deazaguanine (preQ₁)-sensing riboswitch. Spike train analysis reveals that individual mRNA molecules alternate between two conformational states, distinguished by ‘bursts' of probe binding associated with increased SD sequence accessibility. Addition of preQ₁ decreases the lifetime of the SD's high-accessibility (bursting) state and prolongs the time between bursts. In addition, ligand-jump experiments reveal imperfect riboswitching of single mRNA molecules. Such complex ligand sensing by individual mRNA molecules rationalizes the nuanced ligand response observed during bulk mRNA translation.

In response to intracellular signals, bacterial translational riboswitches embedded in mRNAs can regulate gene expression through inhibition of translation initiation. Here, the authors describe SiM-KARTS, a novel approach for detecting changes in the structure of single RNA molecules in response to a ligand.

The unmasking of 'junk' RNA reveals novel sRNAs: from processed RNA fragments to marooned riboswitches

While the notion that RNAs can function as regulators dates back to early molecular studies of gene regulation of the lac operon, it is only over the last decade that the ubiquity and diversity of regulatory RNAs are being realized. Advancements in high throughput sequencing and the adoption of these approaches to rapidly sequence genomes and transcriptomes and to examine gene expression and RNA binding protein specificity have revealed an ever-expanding RNA world. In this review, we focus on recent studies revealing that RNA fragments cleaved from larger coding or noncoding RNAs can have regulatory functions. Additionally, we discuss examples of riboswitches that function in trans as mRNA or protein-binding sRNAs, upending the traditional thinking that these are exclusively cis-acting elements.

lncRNAs in Stress Response

All living organisms sense and respond to harmful changes in their intracellular and extracellular environment through complex signaling pathways that lead to changes in gene expression and cellular function in order to maintain homeostasis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a large and heterogeneous group of functional RNAs, play important roles in cellular response to stressful conditions. lncRNAs constitute a significant fraction of the genes differentially expressed in response to diverse stressful stimuli and, once induced, contribute to the regulation of downstream cellular processes, including feedback regulation of key stress response proteins. While many lncRNAs seem to be induced in response to a specific stress, there is significant overlap between lncRNAs induced in response to different stressful stimuli. In addition to stress-induced RNAs, several constitutively expressed lncRNAs also exert a strong regulatory impact on the stress response. Although our understanding of the contribution of lncRNAs to the cellular stress response is still highly rudimentary, the existing data point to the presence of a complex network of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and proteins in regulation of the cellular response to stress.

Preparation and Crystallization of Riboswitches

Recent studies have revealed that the majority of biological processes are controlled by noncoding RNAs. Among many classes of noncoding RNAs, metabolite-sensing segments of mRNAs called riboswitches are unique. Discovered over a decade ago in all three kingdoms of life, riboswitches specifically and directly interact with various metabolites and regulate expression of multiple genes, often associated with metabolism and transport of small molecules. Thus, riboswitches do not depend on proteins for binding to small molecules and play a role as both metabolite sensors and effectors of gene control. Riboswitches are typically located in the untranslated regions of mRNAs where they form alternative structures in the presence and absence of the ligand and modulate expression of genes through the formation of regulatory elements. To understand the mechanism of the riboswitch-driven gene control, it is important to elucidate how riboswitches interact with cognate and discriminate against non-cognate ligands. Here we outline the methodology to synthesize riboswitch RNAs and prepare riboswitch-ligand complexes for crystallographic and biochemical studies. The chapter describes how to design, prepare, and conduct crystallization screening of riboswitch-ligand complexes. The methodology was refined on crystallographic studies of several riboswitches and can be employed for other types of RNA molecules.

Engineering a Lysine-ON Riboswitch for Metabolic Control of Lysine Production in Corynebacterium glutamicum

Riboswitches are natural RNA elements that regulate gene expression by binding a ligand. Here, we demonstrate the possibility of altering a natural lysine-OFF riboswitch from Eschericia coli (ECRS) to a synthetic lysine-ON riboswitch and using it for metabolic control. To this end, a lysine-ON riboswitch library was constructed using tetA-based dual genetic selection. After screening the library, the functionality of the selected lysine-ON riboswitches was examined using a report gene, lacZ. Selected lysine-ON riboswitches were introduced into the lysE gene (encoding a lysine transport protein) of Corynebacterium glutamicum and used to achieve dynamic control of lysine transport in a recombinant lysine-producing strain, C. glutamicum LPECRS, which bears a deregulated aspartokinase and a lysine-OFF riboswitch for dynamic control of the enzyme citrate synthase. Batch fermentation results of the strains showed that the C. glutamicum LPECRS strain with an additional lysine-ON riboswitch for the control of lysE achieved a 21% increase in the yield of lysine compared to that of the C. glutamicum LPECRS strain and even a 89% increase in yield compared to that of the strain with deregulated aspartokinase. This work provides a useful approach to generate lysine-ON riboswitches for C. glutamicum metabolic engineering and demonstrates for the first time a synergetic effect of lysine-ON and -OFF riboswitches for improving lysine production in this industrially important microorganism. The approach can be used to dynamically control other genes and can be applied to other microorganisms.

Design criteria for synthetic riboswitches acting on transcription

Riboswitches are RNA-based regulators of gene expression composed of a ligand-sensing aptamer domain followed by an overlapping expression platform. The regulation occurs at either the level of transcription (by formation of terminator or antiterminator structures) or translation (by presentation or sequestering of the ribosomal binding site). Due to a modular composition, these elements can be manipulated by combining different aptamers and expression platforms and therefore represent useful tools to regulate gene expression in synthetic biology. Using computationally designed theophylline-dependent riboswitches we show that 2 parameters, terminator hairpin stability and folding traps, have a major impact on the functionality of the designed constructs. These have to be considered very carefully during design phase. Furthermore, a combination of several copies of individual riboswitches leads to a much improved activation ratio between induced and uninduced gene activity and to a linear dose-dependent increase in reporter gene expression. Such serial arrangements of synthetic riboswitches closely resemble their natural counterparts and may form the basis for simple quantitative read out systems for the detection of specific target molecules in the cell.

Whisper mutations: cryptic messages within the genetic code

Recent years have seen a great expansion in our understandings of how silent mutations can drive a disease and that mRNAs are not only mere messengers between the genome and the encoded proteins but also encompass regulatory activities. This review focuses on how silent mutations within open reading frames can affect the functional properties of the encoded protein. We describe how mRNAs exert control of cell biological processes governed by the encoded proteins via translation kinetics, protein folding, mRNA stability, spatio-temporal protein expression and by direct interactions with cellular factors. These examples illustrate how additional levels of information lie within the coding sequences and that the degenerative genetic code is not redundant and have co-evolved with the encoded proteins. Hence, so called synonymous mutations are not always silent but 'whisper'.

What a Difference an OH Makes: Conformational Dynamics as the Basis for the Ligand Specificity of the Neomycin-Sensing Riboswitch

To ensure appropriate metabolic regulation, riboswitches must discriminate efficiently between their target ligands and chemically similar molecules that are also present in the cell. A remarkable example of efficient ligand discrimination is a synthetic neomycin-sensing riboswitch. Paromomycin, which differs from neomycin only by the substitution of a single amino group with a hydroxy group, also binds but does not flip the riboswitch. Interestingly, the solution structures of the two riboswitch-ligand complexes are virtually identical. In this work, we demonstrate that the local loss of key intermolecular interactions at the substitution site is translated through a defined network of intramolecular interactions into global changes in RNA conformational dynamics. The remarkable specificity of this riboswitch is thus based on structural dynamics rather than static structural differences. In this respect, the neomycin riboswitch is a model for many of its natural counterparts.

Identification of RNA Oligonucleotides Binding to Several Proteins from Potential G-Quadruplex Forming Regions in Transcribed Pre-mRNA

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are noncanonical DNA/RNA structures formed by guanine-rich sequences. Recently, G4s have been found not only in aptamers but also in the genomic DNA and transcribed RNA. In this study, we identified new RNA oligonucleotides working as aptamers by focusing on G4-forming RNAs located within the pre-mRNA. We showed that the G4 in the 5′ UTR and first intron of VEGFA bound to the protein encoded in VEGFA gene, VEGF165, with high affinity. Moreover, G4-forming RNAs located within the PDGFA and the PDGFB introns bound to PDGF-AA and PDGF-BB, respectively, indicating that G4 in the pre-mRNA could be an aptamer. It had been reported that the putative G4-forming RNA sequences are located in some parts of most genes, thus our strategy for aptamer identification could be applicable to other proteins. It has been reported that some G4-forming RNAs in 5′ UTRs are involved in translation control; however, G4-forming excised intronic RNA function has not been revealed previously. Therefore, these findings could not only contribute to the identification of RNA aptamers but also provide new insights into the biological functioning of G4-forming RNAs located within intronic RNA sequences.

Structural and Dynamic Basis for Low-Affinity, High-Selectivity Binding of L-Glutamine by the Glutamine Riboswitch

Naturally occurring L-glutamine riboswitches occur in cyanobacteria and marine metagenomes, where they reside upstream of genes involved in nitrogen metabolism. By combining X-ray, NMR, and MD, we characterized an L-glutamine-dependent conformational transition in the Synechococcus elongatus glutamine riboswitch from tuning fork to L-shaped alignment of stem segments. This transition generates an open ligand-binding pocket with L-glutamine selectivity enforced by Mg(2+)-mediated intermolecular interactions. The transition also stabilizes the P1 helix through a long-range "linchpin" Watson-Crick G-C pair-capping interaction, while melting a short helix below P1 potentially capable of modulating downstream readout. NMR data establish that the ligand-free glutamine riboswitch in Mg(2+) solution exists in a slow equilibrium between flexible tuning fork and a minor conformation, similar, but not identical, to the L-shaped bound conformation. We propose that an open ligand-binding pocket combined with a high conformational penalty for forming the ligand-bound state provide mechanisms for reducing binding affinity while retaining high selectivity.

Regulated Control of the Assembly and Diversity of LPS by Noncoding sRNAs

The outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria is asymmetric due to the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) facing the outer leaflet of the OM and phospholipids facing the periplasmic side. LPS is essential for bacterial viability, since it provides a permeability barrier and is a major virulence determinant in pathogenic bacteria. In Escherichia coli, several steps of LPS biosynthesis and assembly are regulated by the RpoE sigma factor and stress responsive two-component systems as well as dedicated small RNAs. LPS composition is highly heterogeneous and dynamically altered upon stress and other challenges in the environment because of the transcriptional activation of RpoE regulon members and posttranslational control by RpoE-regulated Hfq-dependent RybB and MicA sRNAs. The PhoP/Q two-component system further regulates Kdo₂-lipid A modification via MgrR sRNA. Some of these structural alterations are critical for antibiotic resistance, OM integrity, virulence, survival in host, and adaptation to specific environmental niches. The heterogeneity arises following the incorporation of nonstoichiometric modifications in the lipid A part and alterations in the composition of inner and outer core of LPS. The biosynthesis of LPS and phospholipids is tightly coupled. This requires the availability of metabolic precursors, whose accumulation is controlled by sRNAs like SlrA, GlmZ, and GlmY.

Second messenger - Sensing riboswitches in bacteria

Signal sensing in bacteria has traditionally been attributed to protein-based factors. It is however becoming increasingly clear that bacteria also exploit RNAs to serve this role. This review discusses how key developmental processes in bacteria, such as community formation, choice of a sessile versus motile lifestyle, or vegetative growth versus dormant spore formation may be governed by signal sensing RNAs. The signaling molecules that affect these processes, the RNAs that sense these molecules and the underlying molecular basis for specific signal-response are discussed here.

Cross-talk between a regulatory small RNA, cyclic-di-GMP signalling and flagellar regulator FlhDC for virulence and bacterial behaviours

Dickeya dadantii is a globally dispersed phytopathogen which causes diseases on a wide range of host plants. This pathogen utilizes the type III secretion system (T3SS) to suppress host defense responses, and secretes pectate lyase (Pel) to degrade the plant cell wall. Although the regulatory small RNA (sRNA) RsmB, cyclic diguanylate monophosphate (c-di-GMP) and flagellar regulator have been reported to affect the regulation of these two virulence factors or multiple cell behaviours such as motility and biofilm formation, the linkage between these regulatory components that coordinate the cell behaviours remain unclear. Here, we revealed a sophisticated regulatory network that connects the sRNA, c-di-GMP signalling and flagellar master regulator FlhDC. We propose multi-tiered regulatory mechanisms that link the FlhDC to the T3SS through three distinct pathways including the FlhDC-FliA-YcgR3937 pathway; the FlhDC-EcpC-RpoN-HrpL pathway; and the FlhDC-rsmB-RsmA-HrpL pathway. Among these, EcpC is the most dominant factor for FlhDC to positively regulate T3SS expression.

Modulating RNA Alignment Using Directional Dynamic Kinks: Application in Determining an Atomic-Resolution Ensemble for a Hairpin using NMR Residual Dipolar Couplings

Approaches that combine experimental data and computational molecular dynamics (MD) to determine atomic resolution ensembles of biomolecules require the measurement of abundant experimental data. NMR residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) carry rich dynamics information, however, difficulties in modulating overall alignment of nucleic acids have limited the ability to fully extract this information. We present a strategy for modulating RNA alignment that is based on introducing variable dynamic kinks in terminal helices. With this strategy, we measured seven sets of RDCs in a cUUCGg apical loop and used this rich data set to test the accuracy of an 0.8 μs MD simulation computed using the Amber ff10 force field as well as to determine an atomic resolution ensemble. The MD-generated ensemble quantitatively reproduces the measured RDCs, but selection of a sub-ensemble was required to satisfy the RDCs within error. The largest discrepancies between the RDC-selected and MD-generated ensembles are observed for the most flexible loop residues and backbone angles connecting the loop to the helix, with the RDC-selected ensemble resulting in more uniform dynamics. Comparison of the RDC-selected ensemble with NMR spin relaxation data suggests that the dynamics occurs on the ps-ns time scales as verified by measurements of R(1ρ) relaxation-dispersion data. The RDC-satisfying ensemble samples many conformations adopted by the hairpin in crystal structures indicating that intrinsic plasticity may play important roles in conformational adaptation. The approach presented here can be applied to test nucleic acid force fields and to characterize dynamics in diverse RNA motifs at atomic resolution.

A glyS T-box riboswitch with species-specific structural features responding to both proteinogenic and nonproteinogenic tRNAGly isoacceptors

In Staphylococcus aureus, a T-box riboswitch exists upstream of the glyS gene to regulate transcription of the sole glycyl-tRNA synthetase, which aminoacylates five tRNA(Gly) isoacceptors bearing GCC or UCC anticodons. Subsequently, the glycylated tRNAs serve as substrates for decoding glycine codons during translation, and also as glycine donors for exoribosomal synthesis of pentaglycine peptides during cell wall formation. Probing of the predicted T-box structure revealed a long stem I, lacking features previously described for similar T-boxes. Moreover, the antiterminator stem includes a 42-nt long intervening sequence, which is staphylococci-specific. Finally, the terminator conformation adopts a rigid two-stem structure, where the intervening sequence forms the first stem followed by the second stem, which includes the more conserved residues. Interestingly, all five tRNA(Gly) isoacceptors interact with S. aureus glyS T-box with different binding affinities and they all induce transcription readthrough at different levels. The ability of both GCC and UCC anticodons to interact with the specifier loop indicates ambiguity during the specifier triplet reading, similar to the unconventional reading of glycine codons during protein synthesis. The S. aureus glyS T-box structure is consistent with the recent crystallographic and NMR studies, despite apparent differences, and highlights the phylogenetic variability of T-boxes when studied in a genome-dependent context. Our data suggest that the S. aureus glyS T-box exhibits differential tRNA selectivity, which possibly contributes toward the regulation and synchronization of ribosomal and exoribosomal peptide synthesis, two essential but metabolically unrelated pathways.

A kissing loop is important for btuB riboswitch ligand sensing and regulatory control

RNA-based genetic regulation is exemplified by metabolite-binding riboswitches that modulate gene expression through conformational changes. Crystal structures show that the Escherichia coli btuB riboswitch contains a kissing loop interaction that is in close proximity to the bound ligand. To analyze the role of the kissing loop interaction in the riboswitch regulatory mechanism, we used RNase H cleavage assays to probe the structure of nascent riboswitch transcripts produced by the E. coli RNA polymerase. By monitoring the folding of the aptamer, kissing loop, and riboswitch expression platform, we established the conformation of each structural component in the absence or presence of bound adenosylcobalamin. We found that the kissing loop interaction is not essential for ligand binding. However, we showed that kissing loop formation improves ligand binding efficiency and is required to couple ligand binding to the riboswitch conformational changes involved in regulating gene expression. These results support a mechanism by which the btuB riboswitch modulates the formation of a tertiary structure to perform metabolite sensing and regulate gene expression.

FASTR: A novel data format for concomitant representation of RNA sequence and secondary structure information

Given the importance of RNA secondary structures in defining their biological role, it would be convenient for researchers seeking RNA data if both sequence and structural information pertaining to RNA molecules are made available together. Current nucleotide data repositories archive only RNA sequence data. Furthermore, storage formats which can frugally represent RNA sequence as well as structure data in a single file, are currently unavailable. This article proposes a novel storage format, 'FASTR', for concomitant representation of RNA sequence and structure. The storage efficiency of the proposed FASTR format has been evaluated using RNA data from various microorganisms. Results indicate that the size of FASTR formatted files (containing both RNA sequence as well as structure information) are equivalent to that of FASTA-format files, which contain only RNA sequence information. RNA secondary structure is typically represented using a combination of a string of nucleotide characters along with the corresponding dot-bracket notation indicating structural attributes. 'FASTR' - the novel storage format proposed in the present study enables a frugal representation of both RNA sequence and structural information in the form of a single string. In spite of having a relatively smaller storage footprint, the resultant 'fastr' string(s) retain all sequence as well as secondary structural information that could be stored using a dot-bracket notation. An implementation of the 'FASTR' methodology is available for download at http://metagenomics.atc.tcs.com/compression/fastr.

Genomes by design

Next-generation DNA sequencing has revealed the complete genome sequences of numerous organisms, establishing a fundamental and growing understanding of genetic variation and phenotypic diversity. Engineering at the gene, network and whole-genome scale aims to introduce targeted genetic changes both to explore emergent phenotypes and to introduce new functionalities. Expansion of these approaches into massively parallel platforms establishes the ability to generate targeted genome modifications, elucidating causal links between genotype and phenotype, as well as the ability to design and reprogramme organisms. In this Review, we explore techniques and applications in genome engineering, outlining key advances and defining challenges.

The "Speedy" Synthesis of Atom-Specific (15)N Imino/Amido-Labeled RNA

Although numerous reports on the synthesis of atom-specific (15)N-labeled nucleosides exist, fast and facile access to the corresponding phosphoramidites for RNA solid-phase synthesis is still lacking. This situation represents a severe bottleneck for NMR spectroscopic investigations on functional RNAs. Here, we present optimized procedures to speed up the synthesis of (15)N(1) adenosine and (15)N(1) guanosine amidites, which are the much needed counterparts of the more straightforward-to-achieve (15)N(3) uridine and (15)N(3) cytidine amidites in order to tap full potential of (1)H/(15)N/(15)N-COSY experiments for directly monitoring individual Watson-Crick base pairs in RNA. Demonstrated for two preQ1 riboswitch systems, we exemplify a versatile concept for individual base-pair labeling in the analysis of conformationally flexible RNAs when competing structures and conformational dynamics are encountered.

An Efficient Minimum Free Energy Structure-Based Search Method for Riboswitch Identification Based on Inverse RNA Folding

Riboswitches are RNA genetic control elements that were originally discovered in bacteria and provide a unique mechanism of gene regulation. They work without the participation of proteins and are believed to represent ancient regulatory systems in the evolutionary timescale. One of the biggest challenges in riboswitch research is to find additional eukaryotic riboswitches since more than 20 riboswitch classes have been found in prokaryotes but only one class has been found in eukaryotes. Moreover, this single known class of eukaryotic riboswitch, namely the TPP riboswitch class, has been found in bacteria, archaea, fungi and plants but not in animals. The few examples of eukaryotic riboswitches were identified using sequence-based bioinformatics search methods such as a combination of BLAST and pattern matching techniques that incorporate base-pairing considerations. None of these approaches perform energy minimization structure predictions. There is a clear motivation to develop new bioinformatics methods, aside of the ongoing advances in covariance models, that will sample the sequence search space more flexibly using structural guidance while retaining the computational efficiency of sequence-based methods. We present a new energy minimization approach that transforms structure-based search into a sequence-based search, thereby enabling the utilization of well established sequence-based search utilities such as BLAST and FASTA. The transformation to sequence space is obtained by using an extended inverse RNA folding problem solver with sequence and structure constraints, available within RNAfbinv. Examples in applying the new method are presented for the purine and preQ1 riboswitches. The method is described in detail along with its findings in prokaryotes. Potential uses in finding novel eukaryotic riboswitches and optimizing pre-designed synthetic riboswitches based on ligand simulations are discussed. The method components are freely available for use.

In NMR tube transcription for rapid screening of RNA conformation

A simple method for rapid structure screening for RNA by NMR is proposed. Target RNA is transcribed in a NMR tube and its spectra are measured without purification. The proposed method, in NMR tube transcription or INTT, was applied for three RNAs for which NMR spectra have been measured by using the conventionally purified samples. By the real-time measuring, increase of imino proton signals and decrease of NTP signals can be observed. It was confirmed that INTT spectra are in general similar to those obtained by the conventional method. INTT can be used for the first-step screening of RNA folding.

Novel riboswitch-binding flavin analog that protects mice against Clostridium difficile infection without inhibiting cecal flora

Novel mechanisms of action and new chemical scaffolds are needed to rejuvenate antibacterial drug discovery, and riboswitch regulators of bacterial gene expression are a promising class of targets for the discovery of new leads. Herein, we report the characterization of 5-(3-(4-fluorophenyl)butyl)-7,8-dimethylpyrido[3,4-b]quinoxaline-1,3(2H,5H)-dione (5FDQD)-an analog of riboflavin that was designed to bind riboswitches that naturally recognize the essential coenzyme flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and regulate FMN and riboflavin homeostasis. In vitro, 5FDQD and FMN bind to and trigger the function of an FMN riboswitch with equipotent activity. MIC and time-kill studies demonstrated that 5FDQD has potent and rapidly bactericidal activity against Clostridium difficile. In C57BL/6 mice, 5FDQD completely prevented the onset of lethal antibiotic-induced C. difficile infection (CDI). Against a panel of bacteria representative of healthy bowel flora, the antibacterial selectivity of 5FDQD was superior to currently marketed CDI therapeutics, with very little activity against representative strains from the Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Actinomyces, and Prevotella genera. Accordingly, a single oral dose of 5FDQD caused less alteration of culturable cecal flora in mice than the comparators. Collectively, these data suggest that 5FDQD or closely related analogs could potentially provide a high rate of CDI cure with a low likelihood of infection recurrence. Future studies will seek to assess the role of FMN riboswitch binding to the mechanism of 5FDQD antibacterial action. In aggregate, our results indicate that riboswitch-binding antibacterial compounds can be discovered and optimized to exhibit activity profiles that merit preclinical and clinical development as potential antibacterial therapeutic agents.

Stable isotope-labeled RNA phosphoramidites to facilitate dynamics by NMR

Given that Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) are a central hub of various cellular processes, methods to synthesize these RNAs for biophysical studies are much needed. Here, we showcase the applicability of 6-(13)C-pyrimidine phosphoramidites to introduce isolated (13)C-(1)H spin pairs into RNAs up to 40 nucleotides long. The method allows the incorporation of 6-(13)C-uridine and -cytidine residues at any desired position within a target RNA. By site-specific positioning of the (13)C-label using RNA solid phase synthesis, these stable isotope-labeling patterns are especially well suited to resolve resonance assignment ambiguities. Of even greater importance, the labeling pattern affords accurate quantification of important functional transitions of biologically relevant RNAs (e.g., riboswitch aptamer domains, viral RNAs, or ribozymes) in the μs- to ms time regime and beyond without complications of one bond carbon scalar couplings. We outline the chemical synthesis of the 6-(13)C-pyrimidine building blocks and their use in RNA solid phase synthesis and demonstrate their utility in Carr Purcell Meiboom Gill relaxation dispersion, ZZ exchange, and chemical exchange saturation transfer NMR experiments.

Cooperativity, allostery and synergism in ligand binding to riboswitches

Recent progress in identification and characterization of novel types of non-coding RNAs has proven that RNAs carry out a variety of cellular functions ranging from scaffolding to gene expression control. In both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, several classes of non-coding RNAs control expression of dozens of genes in response to specific cues. One of the most interesting and outstanding questions in the RNA field is whether regulatory RNAs are capable of employing basic biological concepts, such as allostery and cooperativity, previously attributed to the function of proteins. Aside from regulatory RNAs that form complementary base pairing with their nucleic acid targets, several RNA classes modulate gene expression via molecular mechanisms which can be paralleled to protein-mediated regulation. Among these RNAs are riboswitches, metabolite-sensing non-coding regulatory elements that adopt intrinsic three-dimensional structures and specifically bind various small molecule ligands. These characteristics of riboswitches make them well-suited for complex regulatory responses observed in allosteric and cooperative protein systems. Here we present an overview of the biochemical, genetic, and structural studies of riboswitches with a major focus on complex regulatory mechanisms and biological principles utilized by riboswitches for such genetic modulation.

Cut and paste RNA for nuclear magnetic resonance, paramagnetic resonance enhancement, and electron paramagnetic resonance structural studies

RNA is a crucial regulator involved in most molecular processes of life. Understanding its function at the molecular level requires high-resolution structural information. However, the dynamic nature of RNA complicates structure determination because crystallization is often not possible or can result in crystal-packing artifacts resulting in nonnative structures. To study RNA and its complexes in solution, we described an approach in which large multi-domain RNA or protein-RNA complex structures can be determined at high resolution from isolated domains determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and then constructing the entire macromolecular structure using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) long-range distance constraints. Every step in this structure determination approach requires different types of isotope or spin-labeled RNAs. Here, we present a simple modular RNA cut and paste approach including protocols to generate (1) small isotopically labeled RNAs (<10 nucleotides) for NMR structural studies, which cannot be obtained by standard protocols, (2) large segmentally isotope and/or spin-labeled RNAs for diamagnetic NMR and paramagnetic relaxation enhancement NMR, and (3) large spin-labeled RNAs for pulse EPR spectroscopy.