Poster abstracts

Poster number 76 submitted by Krystal Street Roark

Mapping the structure of the ON and OFF state of the ykkCD riboswitch

Krystal Street Roark (Department of Chemistry Ball State University), Timea Gerczei (Department of Chemistry Ball State University)

Abstract:
Riboswtiches are recently discovered modes of RNA dependent gene regulation of gene expression through allosteric structural changes triggered by the binding of a small molecule. Bacteria have two ways of potential rendering antibiotics inactive, they can either (1) degrade the antibiotic, or (2) with the help of efflux pumps, they can export antibiotics from the bacterial cell. We hypothesize that the ykkCD riboswitch regulates expression of this efflux pump, and works as a potential toxin sensor by binding to antibiotics. With this, the ykkCD riboswitch could serve as a target in the fight against antibiotic resistance. We will present initial characterization of the previously uncharacterized ykkCD riboswitch. I will test how the structure of the riboswitch changes upon antibiotic binding by mapping the conformation of the OFF and the ON state of the ykkCD riboswitch via footprinting.

Keywords: Riboswitch, gene regulation, footprinting