Degradation of Stable RNA in Bacteria

Murray P Deutscher

doi:10.1074/jbc.r300031200

Abstract

Degradation of Stable RNA in Bacteria

Highlights

Starvation, Stationary Phase, and Slow Growth Degradation of stable RNA is most usually associated with conditions of starvation
Confirmation that growth rate affects stability comes from direct measurement of stable RNA accumulation in cells growing over a wide range of rates
Some excess of rRNA over ribosomal protein may be synthesized at all growth rates [16, 17], suggesting that mechanisms must exist for removing the excess RNA because free rRNA does not accumulate [18]

Summary

Degradation of Stable RNA in Bacteria*

Some excess of rRNA over ribosomal protein may be synthesized at all growth rates [16, 17], suggesting that mechanisms must exist for removing the excess RNA because free rRNA does not accumulate [18] Such quality control mechanisms will be discussed in more detail later. The breakdown of ribosomes and degradation of stable RNA under conditions of starvation, stationary phase, and slow growth would appear to be of major importance to bacterial cells under natural conditions. Enteric bacteria, such as E. coli, live under “feast or famine” conditions, and processes that release the stores of nutrients present in ribosomes would represent an important survival strategy. Understanding how this is accomplished and identifying the regulatory signals that underlie these degradative processes will be of considerable interest

Agents Affecting RNA Stability

Mutations That Affect RNA Stability

Quality Control of RNA

RNases Contributing to Stable RNA Degradation

Findings

Outstanding Questions and Future Directions