The Hunt for RNA Riboswitches and Genetic Sensors of Metabolic Flux in Plants

Collectively, plants are the largest natural chemical factories of secondary metabolic products. Accumulation of metabolites can feedback to alter metabolism thereby maintaining cellular homeostasis. Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) switches termed 'riboswitches' are ancient regulators that sense product accumulation and control gene expression or protein levels. The goals of this proposal are to 1) identify riboswitches and regulatory modules that control secondary metabolism and 2) demonstrate how a carotenoid-sensing RNA regulatory module responds to a prolonged cold stimulus. Outcomes will be the discovery of novel RNA modules and riboswitches, which coordinate epigenetic processes to promote memory, facilitate adaptation and reproduction.