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[Preprint]. 2025 Aug 2:2025.08.01.668122. [Version 1] doi: 10.1101/2025.08.01.668122

Structure-Guided Design of a Bioactive Covalent Small Molecule Targeting a Riboswitch

Chungen Li, Xueyi Yang, Kyle A Dickerson, Patrick RA Zanon, Noah A Springer, Jielei Wang, Yilin Jia, Nikhil C Munshi, Robert T Batey, Matthew D Disney
PMCID: PMC12324513  PMID: 40766716

Abstract

Small molecule ligands targeting structured RNA elements hold promise for modulating RNA function, serving as chemical probes and potential therapeutics. In this study, the characterization of phenylglyoxal-based covalent probe designed to target unpaired guanine residues in structured RNAs is reported. A structure-guided design strategy was employed to modify covalently unpaired guanines critical for flavin mononucleotide (FMN) binding to the FMN riboswitch. Covalent modification occurs at the designed site and modulates riboswitch function in a cellular reporter system, highlighting the potential of covalent mechanisms of action for bioactive RNA ligands.

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