Riboswitches in eubacteria sense the second messenger cyclic di-GMP

Science. 2008 Jul 18;321(5887):411-3. doi: 10.1126/science.1159519.

Abstract

Cyclic di-guanosine monophosphate (di-GMP) is a circular RNA dinucleotide that functions as a second messenger in diverse species of bacteria to trigger wide-ranging physiological changes, including cell differentiation, conversion between motile and biofilm lifestyles, and virulence gene expression. However, the mechanisms by which cyclic di-GMP regulates gene expression have remained a mystery. We found that cyclic di-GMP in many bacterial species is sensed by a riboswitch class in messenger RNA that controls the expression of genes involved in numerous fundamental cellular processes. A variety of cyclic di-GMP regulons are revealed, including some riboswitches associated with virulence gene expression, pilus formation, and flagellum biosynthesis. In addition, sequences matching the consensus for cyclic di-GMP riboswitches are present in the genome of a bacteriophage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / metabolism*
  • Bacillus cereus / genetics
  • Bacillus cereus / metabolism
  • Bacteria / genetics*
  • Bacteria / metabolism
  • Bacteriophages / genetics
  • Base Sequence
  • Clostridioides difficile / genetics
  • Clostridioides difficile / metabolism
  • Cyclic GMP / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cyclic GMP / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • RNA, Bacterial / chemistry
  • RNA, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / chemistry
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • Regulon
  • Second Messenger Systems*
  • Vibrio cholerae / genetics
  • Vibrio cholerae / metabolism

Substances

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Ligands
  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Messenger
  • bis(3',5')-cyclic diguanylic acid
  • Cyclic GMP