Abstract
Most riboswitches are metabolite-binding RNA structures located in bacterial messenger RNAs where they control gene expression. We have discovered a riboswitch class in many bacterial and archaeal species whose members are selectively triggered by fluoride but reject other small anions, including chloride. These fluoride riboswitches activate expression of genes that encode putative fluoride transporters, enzymes that are known to be inhibited by fluoride, and additional proteins of unknown function. Our findings indicate that most organisms are naturally exposed to toxic levels of fluoride and that many species use fluoride-sensing RNAs to control the expression of proteins that alleviate the deleterious effects of this anion.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Anion Transport Proteins / genetics
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Anion Transport Proteins / metabolism
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Aptamers, Nucleotide
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Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
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Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
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Calcium / metabolism
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Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
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Escherichia coli / genetics
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Escherichia coli / growth & development
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Escherichia coli / metabolism
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Fluorides / metabolism
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Fluorides / pharmacology*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
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Ion Channels / genetics
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Ion Channels / metabolism
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Nucleic Acid Conformation
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Pseudomonas syringae / drug effects
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Pseudomonas syringae / genetics*
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Pseudomonas syringae / metabolism
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RNA, Bacterial / chemistry
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RNA, Bacterial / genetics
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RNA, Bacterial / metabolism
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Riboswitch*
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Sodium Fluoride / metabolism
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Sodium Fluoride / pharmacology
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Transformation, Bacterial
Substances
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Anion Transport Proteins
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Aptamers, Nucleotide
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Bacterial Proteins
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Ion Channels
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RNA, Bacterial
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Riboswitch
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Sodium Fluoride
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Fluorides
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Calcium