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- Title
Lithium-sensing riboswitch classes regulate expression of bacterial cation transporter genes.
- Authors
White, Neil; Sadeeshkumar, Harini; Sun, Anna; Sudarsan, Narasimhan; Breaker, Ronald R.
- Abstract
Lithium is rare in Earth's crust compared to the biologically relevant alkali metal cations sodium and potassium but can accumulate to toxic levels in some environments. We report the experimental validation of two distinct bacterial riboswitch classes that selectively activate gene expression in response to elevated Li+ concentrations. These RNAs commonly regulate the expression of nhaA genes coding for ion transporters that weakly discriminate between Na+ and Li+. Our findings demonstrated that the primary function of Li+ riboswitches and associated NhaA transporters is to prevent Li+ toxicity, particularly when bacteria are living at high pH. Additional riboswitch-associated genes revealed how some cells defend against the deleterious effects of Li+ in the biosphere, which might become more problematic as its industrial applications increase.
- Subjects
ALKALI metals; RARE earth metals; CRUST of the earth; RIBOSWITCHES; GENES
- Publication
Scientific Reports, 2022, Vol 12, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2045-2322
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41598-022-20695-6