Biomaterial Database

Riboswitch conformations revealed by small-angle X-ray scattering. 2009

Jan Lipfert, and Daniel Herschlag, and Sebastian Doniach

Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.

Riboswitches are functional RNA molecules that control gene expression through conformational changes in response to small-molecule ligand binding. In addition, riboswitch 3D structure, like that of other RNA molecules, is dependent on cation-RNA interactions as the RNA backbone is highly negatively charged. Here, we show how small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) can be used to probe RNA conformations as a function of ligand and ion concentration. In a recent study of a glycine-binding tandem aptamer from Vibrio cholerae, we have used SAXS data and thermodynamic modeling to investigate how Mg(2+)-dependent folding and glycine binding are energetically coupled. In addition, we have employed ab initio shape reconstruction algorithms to obtain low-resolution models of the riboswitch structure from SAXS data under different solution conditions.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008958	Models, Molecular	Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures.	Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D009690	Nucleic Acid Conformation	The spatial arrangement of the atoms of a nucleic acid or polynucleotide that results in its characteristic 3-dimensional shape.	DNA Conformation,RNA Conformation,Conformation, DNA,Conformation, Nucleic Acid,Conformation, RNA,Conformations, DNA,Conformations, Nucleic Acid,Conformations, RNA,DNA Conformations,Nucleic Acid Conformations,RNA Conformations
D014158	Transcription, Genetic	The biosynthesis of RNA carried out on a template of DNA. The biosynthesis of DNA from an RNA template is called REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION.	Genetic Transcription
D014961	X-Ray Diffraction	The scattering of x-rays by matter, especially crystals, with accompanying variation in intensity due to interference effects. Analysis of the crystal structure of materials is performed by passing x-rays through them and registering the diffraction image of the rays (CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, X-RAY). (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Xray Diffraction,Diffraction, X-Ray,Diffraction, Xray,Diffractions, X-Ray,Diffractions, Xray,X Ray Diffraction,X-Ray Diffractions,Xray Diffractions
D052157	Aptamers, Nucleotide	Nucleotide sequences, generated by iterative rounds of SELEX APTAMER TECHNIQUE, that bind to a target molecule specifically and with high affinity.	DNA Aptamer,DNA Aptamers,RNA Aptamers,Rna Aptamer,Nucleotide Aptamers,Oligonucleotide Ligands, DNA,Oligonucleotide Ligands, RNA,Aptamer, DNA,Aptamer, Rna,Aptamers, DNA,Aptamers, RNA,DNA Oligonucleotide Ligands,RNA Oligonucleotide Ligands
D053838	Scattering, Small Angle	Scattering of a beam of electromagnetic or acoustic RADIATION, or particles, at small angles by particles or cavities whose dimensions are many times as large as the wavelength of the radiation or the de Broglie wavelength of the scattered particles. Also know as low angle scattering. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed) Small angle scattering (SAS) techniques, small angle neutron (SANS), X-ray (SAXS), and light (SALS, or just LS) scattering, are used to characterize objects on a nanoscale.	Small Angle Scattering,Low Angle Scattering,Scattering, Low Angle,Angle Scattering, Low,Angle Scatterings, Low,Low Angle Scatterings,Scatterings, Low Angle
D022661	RNA, Untranslated	RNA which does not code for protein but has some enzymatic, structural or regulatory function. Although ribosomal RNA (RNA, RIBOSOMAL) and transfer RNA (RNA, TRANSFER) are also untranslated RNAs they are not included in this scope.	Noncoding RNA,RNA, Non-Coding,RNA, Non-Peptide-Coding,RNA, Non-Protein-Coding,RNA, Noncoding,RNA, Nontranslated,npcRNA,Non-Coding RNA,Non-Peptide-Coding RNA,Non-Protein-Coding RNA,Nontranslated RNA,RNA, Non Coding,RNA, Non Peptide Coding,RNA, Non Protein Coding,Untranslated RNA
D038621	Regulatory Sequences, Ribonucleic Acid	Sequences within RNA that regulate the processing, stability (RNA STABILITY) or translation (TRANSLATION, GENETIC) of RNA.	RNA Regulatory Sequences,Ribonucleic Acid Regulatory Sequences,Regulatory RNA Region,Regulatory Ribonucleic Acid Region,Regulatory Sequences, RNA,RNA Region, Regulatory,RNA Regions, Regulatory,RNA Regulatory Sequence,Regulatory RNA Regions,Regulatory Sequence, RNA,Sequences, RNA Regulatory