Sensing metal ions and their complexes in nature

Riboswitches are recently discovered highly conserved sequences in the untranslated regions of bacterial mRNAs. Upon binding to certain metabolites with high specificity and selectivity they change their three-dimensional structure thus regulating gene expression and metabolite concentration on the translational or transcriptional level. Our research focuses on the Mg2+- and coenzyme B12-sensitive riboswitches: For example, we could show that the two axial ligands of coenzyme B12 are responsible for the affinity, whereas the corrin side chains induce the structural switch. 

Group members involved: Richard Börner, Pallavi Choudhary, Sofia Gallo, Anastasia Musiari, Michelle Schaffer, Anita Schmitz.

Further reading:

• Chem. Commun., 2011, 47, 403-405.
• ChemBioChem, 2008, 9, 1408-1414.
• Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2007, 360, 360-368.