Overview
- A comprehensive and timely reference volume for basic and applied research on regulatory RNAs
- Covers a wide range of assay formats and systems from the computerized prediction of regulatory RNA elements to their detailed structure-function characterization
- Focuses on both natural and synthetic RNA molecules
- Provides step-by-step protocols of rigorously tested classical and cutting-edge in vivo and in vitro methods
- Presents techniques easily adaptable for experiments with any RNA species
- Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology (MIMB, volume 540)
Access this book
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Other ways to access
About this book
The transfer of hereditary information from genes to proteins is one of the essential pr- esses in all living organisms on our planet. Some genes are expressed without modu- tion throughout the life of a cell, while many others require various degrees of control to precisely balance cellular metabolism with environmental conditions. For many years, researchers attributed this regulatory function to protein molecules, which can direct gene expression at multiple levels, in response to various input signals, and with different degrees of selectivity. Even when the control of gene expression was achieved via direct interactions between proteins and mRNAs, the active role was routinely assigned to p- teins, while RNAs were considered merely as recipient molecules. The discovery of RNA interference and multiple bacterial regulatory RNAs caused a shift from the perception of proteins as the predominant regulators of gene expression to the acknowledgement of the importance of RNAs in many regulatory circuits. Such a viewpoint received strong support several years ago after the discovery of riboswitches and related RNA sensors – mRNA regions capable of alternating their conformations in response to the presence of cellular metabolites and other physical or chemical cues. These classes of RNA pass on cellular and environmental information directly to transcription or translation machinery without the assistance of proteins. The riboswitches are commonly defined as evolutionarily conserved mRNA regions capable of specific binding to metabolite molecules, and, as a result, adopting a particular RNA conformation that modulates gene expression.
Similar content being viewed by others
Keywords
Table of contents (25 protocols)
-
Front Matter
Reviews
From the reviews:
"Riboswitches are among the latest additions to the growing field of RNA-based gene expression control systems found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. … useful in various aspects of work on riboswitches and other regulatory RNAs. … It also refers to pertinent and up-to-date literature. … The reviewed book can be strongly recommended to RNA researchers with different levels of expertise, as well as to those who learn or teach in this field." (Joanna Ciesla, Acta Biochimica Polonica, Vol. 56 (3), 2009)
“This book is a good collection of ‘Methods and Protocols’ for studying … riboswitches as well as some other RNAs involved in gene expression. … Readers are introduced to a broad range of RNA methodologies from basic to applied in this book. I … recommend the book for researchers who work in the area of riboswitches, but also for other scientists who are involved in RNA-relevant studies.” (Atsushi Ogawa, ChemBioChem, Vol. 10, 2009)Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Riboswitches
Book Subtitle: Methods and Protocols
Editors: Alexander Serganov
Series Title: Methods in Molecular Biology
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-558-9
Publisher: Humana Totowa, NJ
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2009
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-934115-88-6Published: 17 April 2009
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-61737-947-5Published: 19 November 2010
eBook ISBN: 978-1-59745-558-9Published: 21 April 2009
Series ISSN: 1064-3745
Series E-ISSN: 1940-6029
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XI, 366
Number of Illustrations: 65 b/w illustrations
Topics: Biochemistry, general, Nucleic Acid Chemistry, Gene Expression