Toeprint Assays for Detecting RNA Structure and Protein-RNA Interactions

Methods Mol Biol. 2022:2516:305-316. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2413-5_16.

Abstract

Toeprint assays are primer extension inhibition assays that can detect the 3' end of an RNA secondary structure, the position of a bound RNA binding protein, as well as the position of a bound 30S ribosomal subunit or a stalled ribosome. Here we describe how this assay was used to identify an RNA hairpin that sequesters a Shine-Dalgarno sequence, how the RNA-binding protein CsrA can alter RNA structure and affect 30S ribosomal subunit binding, and how the macrolide antibiotic tylosin can induce ribosome stalling.

Keywords: Primer extension inhibition; Protein–RNA interaction; RNA structure; Ribosome; Toeprint; Translational control.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins* / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • RNA / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Ribosomes / metabolism

Substances

  • CsrA protein, E coli
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • RNA