中文摘要：

核糖开关（riboswitch）是近几年基因表达调控研究的一个热点.核糖开关位于mRNA的非翻译区（untranslated regions,UTR）,能够直接感受胞内外信号并引起自身二级结构的变化,在转录或后转录（翻译和mRNA稳定性）水平实现对下游相关基因的表达调控,该过程不依赖于包括蛋白质在内的其它任何因子的作用.根据现已发现的核糖开关所能识别的信号因子类型,可以将其分为4类,即小分子代谢物、金属离子、环境因素及空载tRNA敏感的核糖开关;其中,小分子代谢物敏感的核糖开关是发现和研究最多且最深入的一类.随着研究的深入,将会有更多的核糖开关被发现,这不仅有助于理解生物进化与环境适应性,而且在生物学基础研究,新型药物的开发以及工业生产领域都将发挥重要作用.

英文摘要：

Riboswitch is a growing interest in the research of gene expression regulation in recent years.Located in the untranslated regions（UTR） of mRNAs,the riboswitch directly responses to signals and changes its stem-loop structure to regulate the expression of the downstream gene at the transcription or post-transcription level.Both the signal sensing and conformational changing processes of riboswitches are independent of protein factors.Four classes of riboswitches are categorized based on their sensed signals,which include small-molecule metabolites,metal ions,environmental factors（temperature,pH）,and uncharged tRNA sensitive riboswitches.The most interested class of riboswitches which has the largest number of members is the ones to sense small-molecule metabolites.As more riboswitches are being identified,their significance in molecular evolution and environmental adaptation will be better understood,and could be used as helpful tools for basic biological research or industrial drug development.