RRC ID 35228
Author Lynch SA, Topp S, Gallivan JP.
Title High-throughput screens to discover synthetic riboswitches.
Journal Methods Mol Biol
Abstract Synthetic riboswitches constructed from RNA aptamers provide a means to control bacterial gene expression using exogenous ligands. A common theme among riboswitches that function at the translational level is that the RNA aptamer interacts with the ribosome-binding site (RBS) of a gene via an intervening sequence known as an expression platform. Structural rearrangements of the expression platform convert ligand binding into a change in gene expression. While methods for selecting RNA aptamers that bind ligands are well established, few general methods have been reported for converting these aptamers into synthetic riboswitches with desirable properties. We have developed two such methods that not only provide the throughput of genetic selections, but also feature the quantitative nature of genetic screens. One method, based on cell motility, is operationally simple and requires only standard consumables; while the other, based on fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), is particularly adept at identifying synthetic riboswitches that are highly dynamic and display very low levels of background expression in the absence of the ligand. Here we present detailed procedures for screening libraries for riboswitches using the two methods.
Volume 540
Pages 321-33
Published 2009-1-1
DOI 10.1007/978-1-59745-558-9_23
PMID 19381570
MeSH Enzymes / metabolism Escherichia coli / cytology Escherichia coli / metabolism* Flow Cytometry Molecular Biology / methods* Movement Mutagenesis, Insertional Oligonucleotides / metabolism RNA, Untranslated / analysis* RNA, Untranslated / chemical synthesis* Regulatory Sequences, Ribonucleic Acid
Resource
Prokaryotes E. coli JW1870-KC