Riboregulator

Because binding is based on base-pairing, a riboregulator can be tailored to differentiate and respond to individual genetic sequences and combinations thereof.

Signal-responsive structures are usually introduced into the 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR) of the RNA molecules using standard molecular biological techniques.

As discovered by Marilyn Kozak, the small (40S) ribosome complex scans an RNA molecule from 5′ untranslated region to the start codon.

[5][6] In 2004, Isaacs et al. modified Lechner's original system to demonstrate both trans and cis repression in a prokaryotic cells.

Ribozyme riboregulators regulate the ability of a catalytic RNA molecule to cleave a target nucleic acid sequence.

In 2008, Win & Smolke designed a ribozyme regulator that could function in yeast cells that carried out Boolean operations similar to the earlier translational riboregulators, including AND, NAND, NOR, and OR gates.

[9] RNAi riboregulators are small interfering RNAs which respond to a signal input such as complementary hybridization with a DNA or RNA molecule.