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Lafontaine lab :: Publications

2024

Regulation of Magnesium Ion Transport in Escherichia coli: Insights into the Role of the 5' Upstream Region in corA Expression.
Vezina Bedard AS, Michaud A, Quenette F, Singh N, de Lemos Martins F, Wade JT, Guillier M, Lafontaine DA.
RNA Biol., In press, 2024.

Insights into the Cotranscriptional and Translational Control Mechanisms of the Escherichia coli tbpA thiamin pyrophosphate riboswitch.
Grondin JP, Geoffroy M, Simoneau-Roy M, Chauvier A, Turcotte P, St-Pierre P, Dube A, Moreau J, Masse E, Penedo JC, Lafontaine DA.
Commun. Biol., 7(1), 2024.

Cotranscriptional Folding of a 5' Stem-loop in the Escherichia coli tbpA Riboswitch at Single-nucleotide Resolution.
Hien EDM, St-Pierre P, Penedo JC, Lafontaine DA.
J. Mol. Biol., 436(22), 2024.

Structural Characterization of the Cotranscriptional Folding of the Thiamin Pyrophosphate Sensing thiC Riboswitch in Escherichia coli.
Hien EDM, Chauvier A, St-Pierre P, Lafontaine DA.
Biochemistry, 63(13), 2024.

Fluorescent riboswitch-controlled biosensors for the genome scale analysis of metabolic pathways.
Michaud A, Garneau D, Cote JP, Lafontaine DA.
Sci. Rep., 14(1), 2024.

Riboswitch and small RNAs modulate btuB translation initiation in Escherichia coli and trigger distinct mRNA regulatory mechanisms.
Bastet L, Korepanov AP, Jagodnik J, Grondin JP, Lamontagne AM, Guillier M, Lafontaine DA.
Nucleic Acids Res., 52(10), 2024.

Direct and Indirect Control of Rho-Dependent Transcription Termination by the Escherichia coli lysC Riboswitch.
Ghosh T, Jahangirnejad S, Chauvier A, Stringer AM, Korepanov AP, Cote JP, Wade JT, Lafontaine DA.
RNA, 119(20), 2024.

2022

SHAPE-enabled fragment-based ligand discovery for RNA.
Zeller MJ, Favorov O, Li K, Nuthanakanti A, Hussein D, Michaud A, Lafontaine DA, Busan S, Serganov A, Aube J, Weeks KM.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A., 119(20), 2022.

Site-specific photolabile roadblocks for the study of transcription elongation in biologically complex systems.
Nadon JF, Epshtein V, Cameron E, Samatov MR, Vasenko AS, Nudler E, Lafontaine DA.
Commun. Biol., 5(1), 2022.

2021

Monitoring RNA dynamics in native transcriptional complexes.
Chauvier A, St-Pierre P, Nadon JF, Hien E, Perez-Gonzalez C, Eschbach SH, Lamontagne AM, Penedo JC, Lafontaine DA.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A., 118(45), 2021.

Inactivation of the riboswitch-controlled GMP synthase GuaA in Clostridioides difficile is associated with severe growth defects and poor infectivity in a mouse model of infection.
Smith-Peter E, Lalonde Seguin D, St-Pierre E, Sekulovic O, Jeanneau S, Tremblay-Tetreault C, Lamontagne AM, Lafontaine DA, Fortier LC.
RNA Biol., 18, 2021.

A structural intermediate pre-organizes the add adenine riboswitch for ligand recognition.
St-Pierre P, Shaw E, Jacques S, Dalgarno PA, Perez-Gonzalez C, Picard-Jean F, Penedo JC, Lafontaine DA.
Nucleic Acids Res., 49(10), 2021.

2020

Riboswitch regulation mechanisms: RNA, metabolites and regulatory proteins.
Bedard AV, Hien EDM, Lafontaine DA.
Biochim Biophys Acta Gene Regul Mech., 1863(63), 2020.

2019

Role of a hairpin-stabilized pause in the Escherichia coli thiC riboswitch function.
Chauvier A, Nadon JF, Grondin JP, Lamontagne AM, Lafontaine DA.
RNA Biol., 16(8):1066-1073, 2019.

Unprecedented tunability of riboswitch structure and regulatory function by sub-millimolar variations in physiological Mg2.
McCluskey K, Boudreault J, St-Pierre P, Perez-Gonzalez C, Chauvier A, Rizzi A, Beauregard PB, Lafontaine DA, Penedo JC.
Nucleic Acids Res., 47(12):6478-6487, 2019.

2018

The yeast telomerase recruitment module requires a specific RNA architecture.
Laterreur N, Lemieux B, Neumann H, Berger-Dancause JC, Lafontaine DA, Wellinger RJ.
RNA, May 18, 2018.

Maestro of regulation: Riboswitches orchestrate gene expression at the levels of translation, transcription and mRNA decay.
Bastet L, Turcotte P, Wade JT, Lafontaine DA.
RNA Biol, Apr 3:1-4, 2018.

2017

Ligand recognition and helical stacking formation are intimately linked in the SAM-I riboswitch regulatory mechanism.
Dussault AM, Dube A, Jacques F, Grondin JP, Lafontaine DA.
RNA, 23(10):1539-51, 2017.

Transcriptional pausing at the translation start site operates as a critical checkpoint for riboswitch regulation.
Chauvier A, Picard-Jean F, Berger-Dancause JC, Bastet L, Naghdi MR, Dub� A, Turcotte P, Perreault J, Lafontaine DA.
Nat Commun, 8:13892, 2017.

Translational control and Rho-dependent transcription termination are intimately linked in riboswitch regulation.
Bastet L, Chauvier A, Singh N, Lussier A, Lamontagne AM, Prevost K, Masse E, Wade JT, Lafontaine DA.
Nucleic Acids Res, 45(12):7474-86, 2017.

2016

Biophysical Approaches to Bacterial Gene Regulation by Riboswitches.
Perez-Gonzalez C, Grondin JP, Lafontaine DA, Carlos Penedo J.
Adv Exp Med Biol, 915:157-91, 2016.

The catalytic efficiency of yeast ribonuclease III depends on substrate specific product release rate.
Comeau MA, Lafontaine DA, Abou Elela S.
Nucleic Acids Res, 44(16):7911-21, 2016.

Fluorescence-Based Strategies to Investigate the Structure and Dynamics of Aptamer-Ligand Complexes.
Perez-Gonzalez C, Lafontaine DA, Penedo JC.
Front Chem, 4:33, 2016.

2015

Cyclic di-GMP riboswitch-regulated type IV pili contribute to aggregation of Clostridium difficile.
Bordeleau E, Purcell EB, Lafontaine DA, Fortier LC, Tamayo R, Burrus V.
J Bacteriol, 197:819-32, 2015.

A kissing loop is important for btuB riboswitch ligand sensing and regulatory control.
Lussier A, Bastet L, Chauvier A, Lafontaine DA.
J Biol Chem, 290(44):26739-51, 2015.

Role of lysine binding residues in the global folding of the lysC riboswitch.
Smith-Peter E, Lamontagne AM, Lafontaine DA.
RNA Biol, 12(12):1372-82, 2015.

Single-Molecule Approaches for the Characterization of Riboswitch Folding Mechanisms.
Boudreault J, Perez-Gonzalez DC, Penedo JC, Lafontaine DA.
Methods Mol Biol, 1334:101-7, 2015.

Probing of Nascent Riboswitch Transcripts.
Chauvier A, Lafontaine DA.
Methods Mol Biol, 1334:109-14, 2015.

Functional Studies of DNA-Protein Interactions Using FRET Techniques.
Blouin S, Craggs TD, Lafontaine DA, Penedo JC.
Methods Mol Biol, 1334:115-41, 2015.

2014

RNA conformational changes analyzed by comparative gel electrophoresis.
Eschbach SH, Lafontaine DA.
Methods Mol Biol, 1086:255-64, 2014.

Fluorescence tools to investigate riboswitch structural dynamics.
St-Pierre P, McCluskey K, Shaw E, Penedo JC, Lafontaine DA.
Biochim Biophys Acta, 1839:1005-1019, 2014.

Using sm-FRET and denaturants to reveal folding landscapes.
Shaw E, St-Pierre P, McCluskey K, Lafontaine DA, Penedo JC.
Methods Enzymol, 549:313-41, 2014.

2013

A new telomerase RNA element that is critical for telomere elongation.
Laterreur N, Eschbach S, Lafontaine DA, Wellinger R.
Nucleic Acids Res, 41:7713-24, 2013.

Fluorescence monitoring of riboswitch transcription regulation using a dual molecular beacon assay.
Chinnappan R, Dub� A, Lemay JF, Lafontaine DA.
Nucleic Acids Res, 41:e106, 2013.

Regulatory RNAs and target mRNA decay in prokaryotes.
Lalaouna D, Simoneau-Roy M, Lafontaine DA, Masse E.
BBA - Gene Regulatory Mechanisms, 1829:742-7, 2013.

Single-molecule denaturation of riboswitches.
Dalgarno P, Bordello J, Morris R, St-Pierre P, Dube A, Samuel I, Lafontaine DA, Penedo JC.
Nucleic Acids Res, 41:4253-65, 2013.

Experimental treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bovine intramammary infection using a guanine riboswitch ligand analog.
Ster C, Allard M, Boulanger S, Lamontagne Boulet M, Mulhbacher J, Lafontaine DA, Marsault E, Lacasse P, Malouin M.
Journal of Dairy Science, 96:1000-8, 2013.

2012

Dual-acting riboswitch control of translation initiation and mRNA decay.
Caron MP, Bastet L, Lussier A, Simoneau-Roy M, Masse E, Lafontaine DA.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 109:E3444-53, 2012.

Folding of the SAM-I riboswitch: A tale with a twist.
Eschbach SH, St-Pierre P, Penedo JC, Lafontaine DA.
RNA Biology, 9:535-41, 2012.

2011

Constitutive regulatory activity of an evolutionary-excluded riboswitch variant.
Tremblay R, Lemay JF, Blouin S, Mulhbacher J, Bonneau E, Legault P, Dupont P, Penedo JC, Lafontaine DA.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 286:27406-15, 2011.

New insights into riboswitch regulation mechanisms.
Bastet L, Dub� A, Masse E, Lafontaine DA.
Molecular Microbiology, 80:1148-54, 2011.

Molecular insights into the ligand-controlled organization of the SAM-I riboswitch.
Heppell B, Blouin S, Dussault AM, Mulhbacher J, Ennifar E, Penedo JC, Lafontaine DA.
Nature Chem Biol, 7:384-92, 2011.

Comparative study between transcriptionally- and translationally-acting adenine riboswitches reveals key differences in riboswitch regulatory mechanisms.
Lemay JF, Desnoyers G, Blouin S, Heppell B, Bastet L, St-Pierre P, Masse E, Lafontaine DA.
PLoS Genetics, 7:e1001278, 2011.

Folding of the lysine riboswitch: importance of peripheral elements for transcriptional regulation.
Blouin S, Chinnappan R, Lafontaine DA.
Nucleic Acids Res, 39:3373-87, 2011.

2010

Novel riboswitch ligand analogs as selective inhibitors of guanine-related metabolic pathways.
Mulhbacher J, Brouillette E, Allard M, Fortier LC, Malouin F, Lafontaine DA.
PLoS Pathogens, 6:e1000865, 2010.

Therapeutic applications of ribozymes and riboswitches.
Mulhbacher J, St-Pierre P, Lafontaine DA.
Curr Opin Pharmacol., 10:551-6, 2010.

Small RNA-mediated regulation at the level of transcript stability.
Caron MP, Lafontaine DA, Masse E.
RNA Biol., 7:140-4, 2010.

Riboswitch structure: an internal residue mimicking the purine ligand.
Delfosse V, Bouchard P, Bonneau E, Dagenais P, Lemay JF, Lafontaine DA, Legault P.
Nucleic Acids Res, 38:32057-68, 2010.

2009

Functional studies of DNA-protein interactions using FRET techniques.
Blouin S, Craggs T, Lafontaine DA, Penedo JC.
Methods Mol Biol, 543:475-502, 2009.

Molecular Basis of RNA-Mediated Gene Regulation on the Adenine Riboswitch by Single-Molecule Approaches.
Lemay JF, Mulhbacher J, Penedo JC, Lafontaine DA.
Methods Mol Biol, 540:65-76, 2009.

Application of Fluorescence Measurements for Characterization of Riboswitch-Ligand Interactions.
Heppell B, Mulhbacher J, Penedo JC, Lafontaine DA.
Methods Mol Biol, 540:25-37, 2009.

Riboswitches: Ancient and Promising Genetic Regulators.
Blouin S, Mulhbacher J, Penedo JC, Lafontaine DA.
ChemBioChem, 10:400-16, 2009.

2008

Natural Functional Nucleic Acids: Ribozymes and Riboswitches.
Tremblay R, Mulhbacher J, Blouin S, Penedo JC, Lafontaine DA.
(2008). Functional Nucleic Acids for Analytical Applications (Li Y. and Yi L., Eds.), Springer, New-York, NY.

Folding of the SAM Aptamer is Determined by the Formation of a K-turn-dependent Pseudoknot.
Heppell B, Lafontaine DA.
Biochemistry, 47:1490-9, 2008.

2007

Ligand recognition determinants of guanine riboswitches.
Mulhbacher J, Lafontaine DA.
Nucleic Acids Research, 35:5568-5580, 2007.

A loop-loop interaction and a K-turn motif located in the lysine aptamer domain are important for the riboswitch gene regulation control.
Blouin S, Lafontaine DA.
RNA, 13:1256-1267, 2007.

Core requirements of the adenine riboswitch aptamer for ligand binding.
Lemay JF, Lafontaine DA.
RNA, 13:339-350, 2007.

2006

Folding of the adenine riboswitch.
Lemay JF, Penedo C, Tremblay R, Lilley DMJ, Lafontaine DA.
Chemistry & Biology, 13:857-68, 2006.

Le ribor�gulateur ad�nine: Un nouveau mode de r�gulation g�n�tique.
Lemay JF, Lafontaine DA.
M�decine/Sciences, 22:1053-60, 2006.

2002

The global structure of the VS ribozyme.
Lafontaine DA, Norman DG, Lilley DM.
EMBO J., 21:2461-71, 2002.

Functional group requirements in the probable active site of the VS ribozyme
Lafontaine DA, Wilson TJ, Zhao ZY, Lilley DM
J Mol Biol., 323:23-34, 2002.

Folding and catalysis by the VS ribozyme.
Lafontaine DA, Norman DG, Lilley DM.
Biochimie, 84:889-96, 2002.

The structure and active site of the Varkud satellite ribozyme.
Lafontaine DA, Norman DG, Lilley DM.
Biochem Soc Trans., Nov;30(Pt 6):1170-5, 2002.

2001

Structure, folding and activity of the VS ribozyme: importance of the 2-3-6 helical junction.
Lafontaine DA, Norman DG, Lilley DM.
EMBO J., 20:1415-24, 2001.

The A730 loop is an important component of the active site of the VS ribozyme.
Lafontaine DA, Wilson TJ, Norman DG, Lilley DM.
J Mol Biol., 312:663-74, 2001.

2000

Nucleotides -1 to -4 of hepatitis delta ribozyme substrate increase the specificity of ribozyme cleavage.
Deschenes P, Lafontaine DA, Charland S, Perreault JP.
Antisense Nucleic Acid Drug Dev., 10:53-61, 2000.

1999

Presence of a coordinated metal ion in a trans-acting antigenomic delta ribozyme.
Lafontaine DA, Ananvoranich S, Perreault JP.
Nucleic Acids Res., 27:3236-43, 1999.

Mutational analysis of the antigenomic trans-acting delta ribozyme: the alterations of the middle nucleotides located on the P1 stem.
Ananvoranich S, Lafontaine DA, Perreault JP.
Nucleic Acids Res., 27:1473-9, 1999.

The viroid and viroid-like RNA database.
Lafontaine DA, Deschenes P, Bussiere F, Poisson V, Perreault JP.
Nucleic Acids Res., 27(1):186-7, 1999.

1998

Kinetic analysis of delta ribozyme cleavage.
Mercure S, Lafontaine D, Ananvoranich S, Perreault JP.
Biochemistry, 37:16975-82, 1998.

Identification of a Crohn's disease specific transcript with potential as a diagnostic marker.
Lafontaine DA, Mercure S, Perreault JP.
Gut, 42:878-82, 1998.

The viroid and viroid-like RNA database.
Lafontaine DA, Mercure S, Poisson V, Perreault JP.
Nucleic Acids Res., 26(1):190-1, 1998.

1997

Update of the viroid and viroid-like sequence database: addition of a hepatitis delta virus RNA section.
Lafontaine D, Mercure S, Perreault JP.
Nucleic Acids Res., 25(1):123-5, 1997.

1996

Compilation and analysis of viroid and viroid-like RNA sequences.
Mercure S, Lafontaine D, Ananvoranich S, Perreault JP.
Nucleic Acids Res., 24:1793-8, 1996.

1995

Intra- and intermolecular nonenzymatic ligations occur within transcripts derived from the peach latent mosaic viroid.
Lafontaine D, Beaudry D, Marquis P, Perreault JP.
Virology, 212:705-9, 1995.