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Science 314 (5797): 300-304

Copyright © 2006 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Tandem Riboswitch Architectures Exhibit Complex Gene Control Functions

Narasimhan Sudarsan,1* Ming C. Hammond,2* Kirsten F. Block,1 Rüdiger Welz,1 Jeffrey E. Barrick,3 Adam Roth,3 Ronald R. Breaker1,2,3{dagger}

Abstract: Riboswitches are structured RNAs typically located in the 5' untranslated regions of bacterial mRNAs that bind metabolites and control gene expression. Most riboswitches sense one metabolite and function as simple genetic switches. However, we found that the 5' region of the Bacillus clausii metE messenger RNA includes two riboswitches that respond to S-adenosylmethionine and coenzyme B12. This tandem arrangement yields a composite gene control system that functions as a two-input Boolean NOR logic gate. These findings and the discovery of additional tandem riboswitch architectures reveal how simple RNA elements can be assembled to make sophisticated genetic decisions without involving protein factors.

1 Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, Post Office Box 208103, New Haven, CT 06520–8103, USA.
2 Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University, Post Office Box 208103, New Haven, CT 06520–8103, USA.
3 Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, Post Office Box 208103, New Haven, CT 06520–8103, USA.

* These authors contributed equally to this work.

{dagger} To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ronald.breaker{at}yale.edu

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