Temperature-sensing riboceptors

Abstract

Understanding how cells sense temperature is a fundamental question in biology and is pivotal for the evolution of life. In numerous organisms, temperature is not only sensed but also generated due to cellular processes. Consequently, the mechanisms governing temperature sensation in various organisms have been experimentally elucidated. Extending upon others’ proposals and demonstration of protein- and nucleic acid-based thermosensors, and utilizing a colonial India ‘punkah-wallahs’ analogy, I present my rationale for the necessity of temperature sensing in every organelle in a cell. Finally, I propose temperature-sensing riboceptors (ribonucleic acid receptors) to integrate all the RNA molecules (mRNA, non-coding RNA, and so forth) capable of sensing temperature and triggering a signaling event, which I call as thermocrine signaling. This approach could enable the identification of riboceptors in every cell of almost every organism, not only for temperature but also for other classes of ligands, including gaseous solutes, and water.

Keywords

• Thermoreceptor
• temperature sensing
• RNA thermometer
• ribozyme
• riboceptor
• Thermocrine signaling