Team:Cambridge/Project/FluorideRiboswitch

Fluoride riboswitch

We also plan on implementing and characterising a Fluoride riboswitch. This, unlike the Magnesium construct, is a positive regulator. The riboswitch, originally isolated from Bacillus cereus, serves as a transcriptional attenuator in the absence of fluoride. In the presence of fluoride its conformation changes and the repression is lifted. In B. cereus this serves to permit translation of a fluoride efflux pump, which allows the bacteria to cope with the potentially toxic fluoride levels in which it finds itself.

We have kindly been provided with a plasmid from the Breaker lab in Yale University, the key features of which are shown below:

Our riboswitch construct for the detection of fluoride.

For the results of our characterisation assays, please see our Results page

References

• Jenny L. Baker et al., Widespread Genetic Switches and Toxicity Resistance Proteins for Fluoride, Science 335, 233-235.