Modulation of the E. coli rpoH Temperature Sensor with Triptycene‐Based Small Molecules

Abstract

AbstractRegulation of the heat shock response (HSR) is essential in all living systems. In E. coli, the HSR is regulated by an alternative σ factor, σ32, which is encoded by the rpoH gene. The mRNA of rpoH adopts a complex secondary structure that is critical for the proper translation of the σ32 protein. At low temperatures, the rpoH gene transcript forms a highly structured mRNA containing several three‐way junctions, including a rare perfectly paired three‐way junction (3WJ). This complex secondary structure serves as a primitive but highly effective strategy for the thermal control of gene expression. In this work, the first small‐molecule modulators of the E. coli σ32 mRNA temperature sensor are reported.