Abstract

AbstractUsing a cDNA cloning and sequencing approach we have shown that Francisella tularensis expresses homologues of several small RNAs(sRNAs) that are well-conserved among diverse bacteria. We have also discovered two abundant putative sRNAs that share no sequence similarity or conserved genomic context with any previously annotated regulatory transcripts. Deletion of either of these two loci led to significant changes in the expression of several mRNAs that likely include the cognate target(s) of these sRNAs. Deletion of these sRNAs did not, however, significantly alter F. tularensis growth under various stress conditions in vitro, its replication in murine cells, or its ability to induce disease in a mouse model of F. tularensis infection.

Highlights

  • Two classes of bacterial antisense RNAs can be distinguished: – cis-encoded RNAs are located on the strand opposite the target gene, perfectly complementary to their targets over a long sequence stretch, – trans-encoded RNAs are located in another chromosomal location, with short and only partial complementarity to their target RNAs

  • We have identified two novel small RNAs, the first in F. tularensis

  • It is important to recall that most small non-protein-coding RNAs (sRNAs) affect gene expression negatively

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Summary

Antisense RNAs regulators in bacteria

Antisense RNAs, ranging in length from 50 to 500 nucleotides, regulate the physiological and virulent functions of bacteria in response to environmental changes and host signals. These small non-protein-coding RNAs (sRNAs) act by basepairing usually modulating the translation (Fig. 1a) and stability (Fig. 1b) of mRNAs

Translation activation mRNA stability
Highly expressed small RNA species
Identi cation of two novel small RNAs
Conclusion and prospects
Characterization of FtrA and FtrB
From natural to arti cial systems
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