S135: Synthetic riboswitches for controlling bacterial gene expression

Riboswitches are messenger RNA sequences that control gene expression in a ligand-dependent fashion without the need for protein cofactors. Riboswitches use an aptamer domain to recognize their ligands. Using in vitro selection, it is possible to discover aptamers that recognize new ligands. Incorporating these aptamers into synthetic riboswitches provides a powerful opportunity to modulate gene expression for applications in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. 

I will present results from recent mechanistic studies that not only provide new insights into riboswitch function, but also suggest new strategies to discover riboswitches that respond to new ligands.