Non-coding RNA: Antibiotic tricks a switch.

Abstract

A screen for compounds that block a bacterial biosynthetic pathway has uncovered an antibiotic lead that shuts off pathogen growth by targeting a molecular switch in a regulatory RNA structure. See Article p.672 The urgent need for new antibiotics is well recognized. Terry Roemer and colleagues at Merck now describe a new synthetic antibiotic, directed against a bacterial riboswitch. Riboswitches are stretches of non-coding RNA whose structure is affected by a ligand — usually one related to the function of the protein encoded by the riboswitch-containing gene. The new drug, ribocil, blocks the flavin mononucleotide riboswitch-mediated expression of the ribB gene required for riboflavin biosynthesis. Ribocil inhibits bacterial cell growth and is effective in treating a bacterial infection in a mouse model.