Computational study of unfolding and regulation mechanism of preQ1 riboswitches

PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e45239. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045239. Epub 2012 Sep 17.

Abstract

Riboswitches are novel RNA regulatory elements. Each riboswitch molecule consists of two domains: aptamer and express platform. The three-dimensional (3D) structure of the aptamer domain, depending on ligand binding or not, controls that of the express platform, which then switches on or off transcriptional or translational process. Here we study the two types of preQ(1) riboswitch aptamers from T. Tengcongensis (denoted as Tte preQ(1) riboswitch for short below) and Bacillus subtilis (denoted as Bsu preQ(1) riboswitch for short below), respectively. The free-state 3D structure of the Tte preQ(1) riboswitch is the same as its bound state but the Bsu preQ(1) riboswitch is not. Therefore, it is very interesting to investigate how these riboswitches realize their different regulation functions. We simulated the unfolding of these two aptamers through all-atom molecular dynamic simulation and found that they have similar unfolding or folding pathways and ligand-binding processes. The main difference between them is the folding intermediate states. The similarity and difference of their unfolding or folding dynamics may suggest their similar regulation mechanisms and account for their different functions, respectively. These results are also useful to understand the regulation mechanism of other riboswitches with free-state 3D structures similar to their bound states.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / chemistry*
  • Bacillus subtilis / chemistry*
  • Bacillus subtilis / genetics
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • RNA Folding
  • Riboswitch*
  • Thermoanaerobacter / chemistry*
  • Thermoanaerobacter / genetics
  • Thermodynamics
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Ligands
  • Riboswitch

Grants and funding

This work is supported by the National Science Foundation of China under grant no. 30970558 and 11074084 and the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2012AA020402). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.