Riboswitches are metabolite-binding RNA structures that serve as
genetic control elements for certain messenger RNAs. These RNA switches have
been identified in all three kingdoms of life and are typically responsible for
the control of genes whose protein products are involved in the biosynthesis,
transport or utilization of the target metabolite. Herein, we report that a
highly conserved RNA domain found in bacteria serves as a riboswitch that
responds to the coenzyme S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) with remarkably high
affinity and specificity. SAM riboswitches undergo structural reorganization
upon introduction of SAM, and these allosteric changes regulate the expression
of 26 genes in Bacillus subtilis. This and related findings indicate
that direct interaction between small metabolites and allosteric mRNAs is an
important and widespread form of genetic regulation in bacteria.
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