Template:CLSB-UK Interactive Toehold

Initially the start codon is surrounded by a strong secondary structure - the hairpin stem. As the ribosome cannot melt the stem, translation of a fluorescent reporter protein coding sequence is repressed.

Play animation

When a trigger RNA binds to the toehold region (a linear sequence at the 5’ end of the switch) it undergoes a branch migration with the lower part of the stem. This relieves the secondary structure around the start codon. The ribosome bound to the RBS can then melt the remaining stem

Next

This activates translation and fluorescence from the reporter protein can be observed.

Reset