Riboswitches as therapeutic targets: promise of a new era of antibiotics

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction The growth of antibiotic resistance among bacterial pathogens is an impending global threat that can only be averted through the development of novel antibacterial drugs. A promising answer could be the targeting of riboswitches, structured RNA elements found almost exclusively in bacteria. Areas covered This review examines the potential of riboswitches as novel antibacterial drug targets. The limited mechanisms of action of currently available antibiotics are summarized, followed by a delineation of the functional mechanisms of riboswitches. We then discuss the potential for developing novel approaches that target paradigmatic riboswitches in the context of their bacterial gene expression machinery. Expert opinion We highlight potential advantages of targeting riboswitches in their functional form, embedded within gene expression complexes critical for bacterial survival. We emphasize the benefits of this approach, including potentially higher species specificity and lower side effects.