Development of a molecule-responsive RNA processing system and its application to an artificial pseudo-riboswitch

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25708027
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Bio-related chemistry
• Research Institution: Ehime University
• Principal Investigator: Ogawa Atsushi 愛媛大学, プロテオサイエンスセンター, 准教授 (30442940)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: リボスイッチ / プロセシング / tRNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the end processing and degradation of premature tRNAs in a eukaryotic cell extract, which led to the development of a novel type of molecule-responsive gene regulation system called "pseudo-riboswitch" that harnesses the maturation of a premature tRNA probe for a target molecule. This system has the advantage not only in being able to be rationally constructed to respond to an arbitrary molecule but also in generally exhibiting higher switching efficiency than previously reported artificial gene regulation systems, by virtue of its unique mechanism. In addition, we modified this pseudo-riboswitch system to develop biosensors for detecting nucleic acids with high sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, we rationally optimized a tRNA probe framework for introducing a non-natural amino acid into a protein. We also identified an untranslated region of mRNA that enhances translation in the ON state.

Free Research Field

生体関連化学