Issue 5, 2021

Cell-free riboswitches

Abstract

The emerging community of cell-free synthetic biology aspires to build complex biochemical and genetic systems with functions that mimic or even exceed those in living cells. To achieve such functions, cell-free systems must be able to sense and respond to the complex chemical signals within and outside the system. Cell-free riboswitches can detect chemical signals via RNA–ligand interaction and respond by regulating protein synthesis in cell-free protein synthesis systems. In this article, we review synthetic cell-free riboswitches that function in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell-free systems reported to date to provide a current perspective on the state of cell-free riboswitch technologies and their limitations.

Graphical abstract: Cell-free riboswitches

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
29 6 2021
Accepted
26 7 2021
First published
04 8 2021
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Chem. Biol., 2021,2, 1430-1440

Cell-free riboswitches

T. Tabuchi and Y. Yokobayashi, RSC Chem. Biol., 2021, 2, 1430 DOI: 10.1039/D1CB00138H

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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