Interactions of the c-di-GMP riboswitch with its second messenger ligand

Biochem Soc Trans. 2011 Apr;39(2):647-51. doi: 10.1042/BST0390647.

Abstract

The c-di-GMP [bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate] riboswitch is a macromolecular target in the c-di-GMP second messenger signalling pathway. It regulates many genes related to c-di-GMP metabolism as well as genes involved in bacterial motility, virulence and biofilm formation. The riboswitch makes asymmetric contacts to the bases and phosphate backbone of this symmetric dinucleotide. The phylogenetics suggested and mutagenesis has confirmed that this is a flexible motif where variants can make alternative interactions with each of the guanine bases of c-di-GMP. A mutant riboswitch has been designed that can bind a related molecule, c-di-AMP, confirming the most important contacts made to the ligand. The binding kinetics reveal that this is a kinetically controlled riboswitch and mutations to the riboswitch lead to increases in the off-rate. This riboswitch is therefore flexible in sequence as well as kinetic properties.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cyclic GMP / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cyclic GMP / chemistry
  • Cyclic GMP / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Ligands*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Riboswitch / physiology*
  • Second Messenger Systems* / physiology

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Riboswitch
  • bis(3',5')-cyclic diguanylic acid
  • Cyclic GMP