Scientists developed a new RNA-based toolkit that can regulate gene expression, potentially improving regenerative medicine, gene therapy, and biotechnology. The technology uses small molecules to control the activity of synthetic RNA, allowing for precise control over gene expression.
Researchers have developed a new approach to studying RNA molecules using nanotechnology and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), enabling the analysis of RNA subunits with unprecedented resolution. This breakthrough has significant implications for fundamental research, drug development, and RNA therapeutics.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered a new mechanism called strand displacement, where RNA strands invade and displace each other to enable genetic expression. This finding has potential implications for designing successful drugs to target RNA-based diagnostics and treating illness and disease.
Researchers discovered RNA can bind two metabolites in a single pocket, regulating gene expression and potentially creating new antibacterial drugs. This finding provides more support for the 'RNA World' theory, which suggests RNA molecules enabled life to evolve 3.5 billion years ago.
A Northwestern University research team discovered similarities in RNA folding among riboswitches, which could impact the design of future RNA-specific therapeutics and synthetic biology tools. The findings could also inform efforts to treat diseases triggered by RNA-level misfolding.
Researchers at OIST and Osaka University develop an artificial cell system that interacts with histamine, a natural chemical compound. The system uses a riboswitch to turn on a gene inside the cells, which can eventually be used to release drugs in response to histamine signals.
Researchers deciphered the workings of a common bacterial switch that regulates protein production, revealing a snap-lock mechanism. This discovery could lead to new antibiotics as gram-positive bacteria use T-box riboswitches to regulate protein production.
Researchers analyzed the structure and dynamics of riboswitches using optical single-molecule experiments. They found that the riboswitch fluctuates between different conformations, with SAM attachment accelerating structure changes to ensure quick gene expression shutdown.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine have developed a new imaging technique using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to visualize RNA structure and motion over time. This discovery opens up new avenues for developing drugs that target RNA, crucial for understanding health and disease.
Researchers use X-ray laser to study RNA and biomolecules, gaining insights into fundamental cell workings and potential disease treatments. The study opens new paths to understanding how RNA regulates protein production and fine-tunes gene function.
Edward Nikonowicz will investigate a gene-regulating switch that could lead to the development of new antibiotics, targeting Bacillus anthracis bacteria.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum successfully taught bacteria to swim by combining various RNA modules in a new way. The team used riboswitches and RNA thermometers to control the bacterium's behavior and responded to temperature and metabolic products.
Researchers at SISSA have identified a key mechanism by which riboswitches regulate gene expression in bacteria. By using computer simulations to model the dynamics of the process, they found that binding to a metabolite molecule stabilizes the active form of the riboswitch, triggering protein synthesis.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have discovered a genetic sequence that can alter its host gene's activity in response to cellular energy levels, a finding that could have broad implications for biology and medicine. The energy-sensing switch, known as a riboswitch, detects the molecule ATP and controls global metabolic regul...
New research reveals that many bacteria try to fend off fluoride by throwing it out, and that the presence of this transport system indicates fluoride has antimicrobial properties. The discovery also highlights a genetic switch called riboswitches, which can be used to enhance fluoride's effects against bacteria.
Bacteria use riboswitches to detect and counteract the effects of fluoride, a key component of toothpaste. The discovery sheds light on how microbes overcome fluoride toxicity, potentially leading to new treatments for dental health issues.
Scientists from Scripps Research Institute have discovered a new type of RNA molecule, called riboswitches, that can turn genes on or off in response to cellular energy needs. These findings may have implications for designing new antibiotics against harmful bacteria.
Max Planck scientists have successfully inserted a gene switch into the genetic material of chloroplasts in plant cells, allowing for controlled protein production. This breakthrough enables researchers to study the functions of chloroplasts and explore potential applications in biotechnology, such as producing antibiotics.
Researchers have achieved a breakthrough in regulating genes by hijacking riboswitches, opening doors for targeted drug discovery and synthetic biology. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, uses synthetic molecules to activate genes previously controlled by small naturally occurring molecules.
Researchers have identified a genetic mechanism in bacteria that could lead to the development of new antibiotics. The preQ1 riboswitch regulates gene expression by controlling the availability of queuosine, a molecule essential for bacterial survival and human disease.
Researchers at Stanford University used an optical trap to physically pull and fold a 3D RNA molecule, revealing the step-by-step formation of its tertiary structure. This breakthrough provides unprecedented insight into molecular folding behavior and opens doors for detailed studies of other molecules.
Researchers at Stanford University use an optical trap to physically manipulate RNA molecules, directly observing their three-dimensional folding for the first time. The study reveals the energy and folding behavior of a riboswitch, providing new insights into how biomolecules take shape and function.
Researchers created hairpin-shaped RNA molecules that can differentiate between riboswitches in on and off states. These aptamers could help find new antibiotics by binding to the switches of pathogens, blocking essential protein synthesis.
Researchers discovered a novel RNA-based sensor in Salmonella that responds to magnesium ions, allowing cells to assess and react to their environment. The discovery expands the types of molecules that can be detected by riboswitches.
Riboswitches are RNA elements that control gene expression in essential metabolic pathways. Researchers at Yale University have identified pyrithiamine as a toxic compound that disrupts these pathways, leading to the development of new antibiotics.
Researchers at Yale University have identified a cooperative RNA switch in nature, which responds to various target compounds and regulates metabolic processes. This discovery supports the theory of an RNA World, where RNA molecules served a central role in early life.