A 3′ External Transcribed Spacer in a tRNA Transcript Acts as a Sponge for Small RNAs to Prevent Transcriptional Noise

Hierarchy in Hfq Chaperon Occupancy of Small RNA Targets Plays a Major Role in Their Regulation

Bacterial small RNAs (sRNAs) are posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression that base pair with complementary sequences on target mRNAs, often in association with the chaperone Hfq. Here, using experimentally identified sRNA-target pairs, along with gene expression measurements, we assess basic principles of regulation by sRNAs. We show that the sRNA sequence dictates the target repertoire, as point mutations in the sRNA shift the target set correspondingly. We distinguish two subsets of targets: targets showing changes in expression levels under overexpression of their sRNA regulator and unaffected targets that interact more sporadically with the sRNA. These differences among targets are associated with their Hfq occupancy, rather than with the sRNA-target base-pairing potential. Our results suggest that competition among targets over Hfq binding plays a major role in the regulatory outcome, possibly awarding targets with higher Hfq binding efficiency an advantage in the competition over binding to the sRNA.

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Basic concepts of regulation by small RNAs are revealed from large-scale data

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Small changes in the small RNA sequence shift the target repertoire accordingly

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A regulatory sRNA affects the expression levels of only a subset of its targets

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Competition among targets over Hfq binding plays a major role in their regulation

The role of RNA-binding proteins in mediating adaptive responses in Gram-positive bacteria

Bacteria are constantly subjected to stressful conditions, such as antibiotic exposure, nutrient limitation and oxidative stress. For pathogenic bacteria, adapting to the host environment, escaping defence mechanisms and coping with antibiotic stress are crucial for their survival and the establishment of a successful infection. Stress adaptation relies heavily on the rate at which the organism can remodel its gene expression programme to counteract the stress. RNA-binding proteins mediating co- and post-transcriptional regulation have recently emerged as important players in regulating gene expression during adaptive responses. Most of the research on these layers of gene expression regulation has been done in Gram-negative model organisms where, thanks to a wide variety of global studies, large post-transcriptional regulatory networks have been uncovered. Unfortunately, our understanding of post-transcriptional regulation in Gram-positive bacteria is lagging behind. One possible explanation for this is that many proteins employed by Gram-negative bacteria are not well conserved in Gram-positives. And even if they are conserved, they do not always play similar roles as in Gram-negative bacteria. This raises the important question whether Gram-positive bacteria regulate gene expression in a significantly different way. The goal of this review was to discuss this in more detail by reviewing the role of well-known RNA-binding proteins in Gram-positive bacteria and by highlighting their different behaviours with respect to some of their Gram-negative counterparts. Finally, the second part of this review introduces several unusual RNA-binding proteins of Gram-positive species that we believe could also play an important role in adaptive responses.

Identification of RNAs bound by Hfq reveals widespread RNA partners and a sporulation regulator in the human pathogen Clostridioides difficile

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNA) have emerged as important components of regulatory networks governing bacterial physiology and virulence. Previous deep-sequencing analysis identified a large diversity of ncRNAs in the human enteropathogen Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile. Some of them are trans-encoded RNAs that could require the RNA chaperone protein Hfq for their action. Recent analysis suggested a pleiotropic role of Hfq in C. difficile with the most pronounced effect on sporulation, a key process during the infectious cycle of this pathogen. However, a global view of RNAs interacting with C. difficile Hfq is missing. In the present study, we performed RNA immunoprecipitation high-throughput sequencing (RIP-Seq) to identify Hfq-associated RNAs in C. difficile. Our work revealed a large set of Hfq-interacting mRNAs and ncRNAs, including mRNA leaders and coding regions, known and potential new ncRNAs. In addition to trans-encoded RNAs, new categories of Hfq ligands were found including cis-antisense RNAs, riboswitches and CRISPR RNAs. ncRNA-mRNA and ncRNA-ncRNA pairings were postulated through computational predictions. Investigation of one of the Hfq-associated ncRNAs, RCd1, suggests that this RNA contributes to the control of late stages of sporulation in C. difficile. Altogether, these data provide essential molecular basis for further studies of post-transcriptional regulatory network in this enteropathogen.

Toward a Comprehensive Analysis of Posttranscriptional Regulatory Networks: a New Tool for the Identification of Small RNA Regulators of Specific mRNAs

A number of computational or experimental tools have been developed to identify targets of small RNA (sRNA) regulation. Here, we modified one of these methods, based on in vivo proximity ligation of sRNAs bound to their targets, referred to as rGRIL-seq, that can be used to capture sRNA regulators of a gene of interest. Intracellular expression of bacteriophage T4 RNA ligase leads to a covalent linking of sRNAs base-paired with mRNAs, and the chimeras are captured using oligonucleotides complementary to the mRNA, followed by sequencing. This allows the identification of known as well as novel sRNAs. We applied rGRIL-seq toward finding sRNA regulators of expression of the stress response sigma factor RpoS in Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Vibrio cholerae. In E. coli, we confirmed the regulatory role of known sRNAs and discovered a new negative regulator, asYbiE. When applied to P. aeruginosa and V. cholerae, we identified two novel sRNAs (s03661 and s0223) in P. aeruginosa and two known sRNAs (TfoR and Vcr043) in V. cholerae as direct regulators of rpoS. The use of rGRIL-seq for defining multiple posttranscriptional regulatory inputs into individual mRNAs represents a step toward a more comprehensive understanding of the workings of bacterial regulatory networks.

Transcriptome-Wide Analysis of Stationary Phase Small ncRNAs in E. coli

Almost two-thirds of the microbiome's biomass has been predicted to be in a non-proliferating, and thus dormant, growth state. It is assumed that dormancy goes hand in hand with global downregulation of gene expression. However, it remains largely unknown how bacteria manage to establish this resting phenotype at the molecular level. Recently small non-protein-coding RNAs (sRNAs or ncRNAs) have been suggested to be involved in establishing the non-proliferating state in bacteria. Here, we have deep sequenced the small transcriptome of Escherichia coli in the exponential and stationary phases and analyzed the resulting reads by a novel biocomputational pipeline STARPA (Stable RNA Processing Product Analyzer). Our analysis reveals over 12,000 small transcripts enriched during both growth stages. Differential expression analysis reveals distinct sRNAs enriched in the stationary phase that originate from various genomic regions, including transfer RNA (tRNA) fragments. Furthermore, expression profiling by Northern blot and RT-qPCR analyses confirms the growth phase-dependent expression of several enriched sRNAs. Our study adds to the existing repertoire of bacterial sRNAs and suggests a role for some of these small molecules in establishing and maintaining stationary phase as well as the bacterial stress response. Functional characterization of these detected sRNAs has the potential of unraveling novel regulatory networks central for stationary phase biology.

MAPS integrates regulation of actin-targeting effector SteC into the virulence control network of Salmonella small RNA PinT

A full understanding of the contribution of small RNAs (sRNAs) to bacterial virulence demands knowledge of their target suites under infection-relevant conditions. Here, we take an integrative approach to capturing targets of the Hfq-associated sRNA PinT, a known post-transcriptional timer of the two major virulence programs of Salmonella enterica. Using MS2 affinity purification and RNA sequencing (MAPS), we identify PinT ligands in bacteria under in vitro conditions mimicking specific stages of the infection cycle and in bacteria growing inside macrophages. This reveals PinT-mediated translational inhibition of the secreted effector kinase SteC, which had gone unnoticed in previous target searches. Using genetic, biochemical, and microscopic assays, we provide evidence for PinT-mediated repression of steC mRNA, eventually delaying actin rearrangements in infected host cells. Our findings support the role of PinT as a central post-transcriptional regulator in Salmonella virulence and illustrate the need for complementary methods to reveal the full target suites of sRNAs.

Small RNA Regulation of Virulence in Pathogenic Escherichia coli

Enteric and extraintestinal pathotypes of Escherichia coli utilize a wide range of virulence factors to colonize niches within the human body. During infection, virulence factors such as adhesins, secretions systems, or toxins require precise regulation and coordination to ensure appropriate expression. Additionally, the bacteria navigate rapidly changing environments with fluctuations in pH, temperature, and nutrient levels. Enteric pathogens utilize sophisticated, interleaved systems of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation to sense and respond to these changes and modulate virulence gene expression. Regulatory small RNAs and RNA-binding proteins play critical roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of virulence. In this review we discuss how the mosaic genomes of Escherichia coli pathotypes utilize small RNA regulation to adapt to their niche and become successful human pathogens.

Regulatory roles of Escherichia coli 5' UTR and ORF-internal RNAs detected by 3' end mapping

Many bacterial genes are regulated by RNA elements in their 5´ untranslated regions (UTRs). However, the full complement of these elements is not known even in the model bacterium Escherichia coli. Using complementary RNA-sequencing approaches, we detected large numbers of 3´ ends in 5´ UTRs and open reading frames (ORFs), suggesting extensive regulation by premature transcription termination. We documented regulation for multiple transcripts, including spermidine induction involving Rho and translation of an upstream ORF for an mRNA encoding a spermidine efflux pump. In addition to discovering novel sites of regulation, we detected short, stable RNA fragments derived from 5´ UTRs and sequences internal to ORFs. Characterization of three of these transcripts, including an RNA internal to an essential cell division gene, revealed that they have independent functions as sRNA sponges. Thus, these data uncover an abundance of cis- and trans-acting RNA regulators in bacterial 5´ UTRs and internal to ORFs.

In most organisms, specific segments of a cell’s genetic information are copied to form single-stranded molecules of various sizes and purposes. Each of these RNA molecules, as they are known, is constructed as a chain that starts at the 5´ end and terminates at the 3´ end.

Certain RNAs carry the information present in a gene, which provides the instructions that a cell needs to build proteins. Some, however, are ‘non-coding’ and instead act to fine-tune the activity of other RNAs. These regulatory RNAs can be separate from the RNAs they control, or they can be embedded in the very sequences they regulate; new evidence also shows that certain regulatory RNAs can act in both ways.

Many regulatory RNAs are yet to be catalogued, even in simple, well-studied species such as the bacterium Escherichia coli. Here, Adams et al. aimed to better characterize the regulatory RNAs present in E. coli by mapping out the 3´ ends of every RNA molecule in the bacterium.

This revealed many new regulatory RNAs and offered insights into where these sequences are located. For instance, the results show that several of these RNAs were embedded within RNA produced from larger genes. Some were nested in coding RNAs, and were parts of a longer RNA sequence that is adjacent to the protein coding segment. Others, however, were present within the instructions that code for a protein.

The work by Adams et al. reveals that regulatory RNAs can be located in unexpected places, and provides a method for identifying them. This can be applied to other types of bacteria, in particular in species with few known RNA regulators.

Trans-Acting Effectors Versus RNA Cis-Elements: A Tightly Knit Regulatory Mesh

Prokaryotic organisms often react instantly to environmental variations to ensure their survival. They can achieve this by rapidly and specifically modulating translation, the critical step of protein synthesis. The translation machinery responds to an array of cis-acting elements, located on the RNA transcript, which dictate the fate of mRNAs. These cis-encoded elements, such as RNA structures or sequence motifs, interact with a variety of regulators, among them small regulatory RNAs. These small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are especially effective at modulating translation initiation through their interaction with cis-encoded mRNA elements. Here, through selected examples of canonical and non-canonical regulatory events, we demonstrate the intimate connection between mRNA cis-encoded features and sRNA-dependent translation regulation. We also address how sRNA-based mechanistic studies can drive the discovery of new roles for cis-elements. Finally, we briefly overview the challenges of using translation regulation by synthetic regulators as a tool.

Interplay between Regulatory RNAs and Signal Transduction Systems during Bacterial Infection

The ability of pathogenic bacteria to stably infect the host depends on their capacity to respond and adapt to the host environment and on the efficiency of their defensive mechanisms. Bacterial envelope provides a physical barrier protecting against environmental threats. It also constitutes an important sensory interface where numerous sensing systems are located. Signal transduction systems include Two-Component Systems (TCSs) and alternative sigma factors. These systems are able to sense and respond to the ever-changing environment inside the host, altering the bacterial transcriptome to mitigate the impact of the stress. The regulatory networks associated with signal transduction systems comprise small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) that can be directly involved in the expression of virulence factors. The aim of this review is to describe the importance of TCS- and alternative sigma factor-associated sRNAs in human pathogens during infection. The currently available genome-wide approaches for studies of TCS-regulated sRNAs will be discussed. The differences in the signal transduction mediated by TCSs between bacteria and higher eukaryotes and the specificity of regulatory RNAs for their targets make them appealing targets for discovery of new strategies to fight against multi-resistant bacteria.

The mRNA derived MalH sRNA contributes to alternative carbon source utilization by tuning maltoporin expression in E. coli

Previous high-throughput studies in Gram-negative bacteria identified a large number of 3ʹUTR fragments that potentially function as sRNAs. Here we extensively characterize the MalH sRNA. We show that MalH is a stable degradation intermediate derived from the 3ʹ end of malG, which is part of the maltose uptake operon transcript malEFG. Unlike the majority of bacterial sRNAs, MalH is transiently expressed during the transition from the exponential to the stationary growth phase, suggesting that it contributes to adaptation to changes in nutrient availability. Over-expression of MalH reduces expression of general outer membrane porins and MicA, a repressor of the high-affinity maltose/maltodextrin transporter LamB. Disrupting MalH production and function significantly reduces lamB accumulation when maltose is the only available carbon source, presumably due to the accumulation of the MicA repressor. We propose that MalH is part of a regulatory network that, during the transition phase, directly or indirectly promotes accumulation of high-affinity maltose transporters in the outer membrane by dampening competing pathways.

Roles of Noncoding RNAs in Islet Biology

The discovery that most mammalian genome sequences are transcribed to ribonucleic acids (RNA) has revolutionized our understanding of the mechanisms governing key cellular processes and of the causes of human diseases, including diabetes mellitus. Pancreatic islet cells were found to contain thousands of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including micro-RNAs (miRNAs), PIWI-associated RNAs, small nucleolar RNAs, tRNA-derived fragments, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs. While the involvement of miRNAs in islet function and in the etiology of diabetes is now well documented, there is emerging evidence indicating that other classes of ncRNAs are also participating in different aspects of islet physiology. The aim of this article will be to provide a comprehensive and updated view of the studies carried out in human samples and rodent models over the past 15 years on the role of ncRNAs in the control of α- and β-cell development and function and to highlight the recent discoveries in the field. We not only describe the role of ncRNAs in the control of insulin and glucagon secretion but also address the contribution of these regulatory molecules in the proliferation and survival of islet cells under physiological and pathological conditions. It is now well established that most cells release part of their ncRNAs inside small extracellular vesicles, allowing the delivery of genetic material to neighboring or distantly located target cells. The role of these secreted RNAs in cell-to-cell communication between β-cells and other metabolic tissues as well as their potential use as diabetes biomarkers will be discussed. © 2020 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 10:893-932, 2020.

Plugging Small RNAs into the Network

Small RNAs (sRNAs) have been discovered in every bacterium examined and have been shown to play important roles in the regulation of a diverse range of behaviors, from metabolism to infection. However, despite a wide range of available techniques for discovering and validating sRNA regulatory interactions, only a minority of these molecules have been well characterized. In part, this is due to the nature of posttranscriptional regulation: the activity of an sRNA depends on the state of the transcriptome as a whole, so characterization is best carried out under the conditions in which it is naturally active. In this issue of mSystems, Arrieta-Ortiz and colleagues (M. L. Arrieta-Ortiz, C. Hafemeister, B. Shuster, N. S. Baliga, et al., mSystems 5:e00057-20, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1128/mSystems.00057-20) present a network inference approach based on estimating sRNA activity across transcriptomic compendia. This shows promise not only for identifying new sRNA regulatory interactions but also for pinpointing the conditions in which these interactions occur, providing a new avenue toward functional characterization of sRNAs.

Inference of Bacterial Small RNA Regulatory Networks and Integration with Transcription Factor-Driven Regulatory Networks

Small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) are key regulators of bacterial gene expression. Through complementary base pairing, sRNAs affect mRNA stability and translation efficiency. Here, we describe a network inference approach designed to identify sRNA-mediated regulation of transcript levels. We use existing transcriptional data sets and prior knowledge to infer sRNA regulons using our network inference tool, the Inferelator. This approach produces genome-wide gene regulatory networks that include contributions by both transcription factors and sRNAs. We show the benefits of estimating and incorporating sRNA activities into network inference pipelines using available experimental data. We also demonstrate how these estimated sRNA regulatory activities can be mined to identify the experimental conditions where sRNAs are most active. We uncover 45 novel experimentally supported sRNA-mRNA interactions in Escherichia coli, outperforming previous network-based efforts. Additionally, our pipeline complements sequence-based sRNA-mRNA interaction prediction methods by adding a data-driven filtering step. Finally, we show the general applicability of our approach by identifying 24 novel, experimentally supported, sRNA-mRNA interactions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis. Overall, our strategy generates novel insights into the functional context of sRNA regulation in multiple bacterial species.

IMPORTANCE Individual bacterial genomes can have dozens of small noncoding RNAs with largely unexplored regulatory functions. Although bacterial sRNAs influence a wide range of biological processes, including antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity, our current understanding of sRNA-mediated regulation is far from complete. Most of the available information is restricted to a few well-studied bacterial species; and even in those species, only partial sets of sRNA targets have been characterized in detail. To close this information gap, we developed a computational strategy that takes advantage of available transcriptional data and knowledge about validated and putative sRNA-mRNA interactions for inferring expanded sRNA regulons. Our approach facilitates the identification of experimentally supported novel interactions while filtering out false-positive results. Due to its data-driven nature, our method prioritizes biologically relevant interactions among lists of candidate sRNA-target pairs predicted in silico from sequence analysis or derived from sRNA-mRNA binding experiments.

The Sponge RNAs of bacteria - How to find them and their role in regulating the post-transcriptional network

In bacteria small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) interact with their mRNA targets through non-consecutive base-pairing. The loose base-pairing specificity allows sRNAs to regulate large numbers of genes, either affecting the stability and/or the translation of mRNAs. Mechanisms enabling post-transcriptional regulation of the sRNAs themselves have also been described involving so-called sponge RNAs. Sponge RNAs modulate free sRNA levels in the cell through RNA-RNA interactions that sequester ("soak up") the sRNA and/or promote degradation of the target sRNA or the sponge RNA-sRNA complex. The development of complex RNA sequencing strategies for the detection of RNA-RNA interactions has enabled identification of several sponge RNAs, as well as previously known regulatory RNAs able to act as both regulators and sponges. This review highlights techniques that have enabled the identification of these sponge RNAs, the origins of sponge RNAs and the mechanisms by which they function in the post-transcriptional network.

Hfq CLASH uncovers sRNA-target interaction networks linked to nutrient availability adaptation

By shaping gene expression profiles, small RNAs (sRNAs) enable bacteria to efficiently adapt to changes in their environment. To better understand how Escherichia coli acclimatizes to nutrient availability, we performed UV cross-linking, ligation and sequencing of hybrids (CLASH) to uncover Hfq-associated RNA-RNA interactions at specific growth stages. We demonstrate that Hfq CLASH robustly captures bona fide RNA-RNA interactions. We identified hundreds of novel sRNA base-pairing interactions, including many sRNA-sRNA interactions and involving 3'UTR-derived sRNAs. We rediscovered known and identified novel sRNA seed sequences. The sRNA-mRNA interactions identified by CLASH have strong base-pairing potential and are highly enriched for complementary sequence motifs, even those supported by only a few reads. Yet, steady state levels of most mRNA targets were not significantly affected upon over-expression of the sRNA regulator. Our results reinforce the idea that the reproducibility of the interaction, not base-pairing potential, is a stronger predictor for a regulatory outcome.

Grad-seq in a Gram-positive bacterium reveals exonucleolytic sRNA activation in competence control

RNA–protein interactions are the crucial basis for many steps of bacterial gene expression, including post‐transcriptional control by small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs). In stark contrast to recent progress in the analysis of Gram‐negative bacteria, knowledge about RNA–protein complexes in Gram‐positive species remains scarce. Here, we used the Grad‐seq approach to draft a comprehensive landscape of such complexes in Streptococcus pneumoniae, in total determining the sedimentation profiles of ~ 88% of the transcripts and ~ 62% of the proteins of this important human pathogen. Analysis of in‐gradient distributions and subsequent tag‐based protein capture identified interactions of the exoribonuclease Cbf1/YhaM with sRNAs that control bacterial competence for DNA uptake. Unexpectedly, the nucleolytic activity of Cbf1 stabilizes these sRNAs, thereby promoting their function as repressors of competence. Overall, these results provide the first RNA/protein complexome resource of a Gram‐positive species and illustrate how this can be utilized to identify new molecular factors with functions in RNA‐based regulation of virulence‐relevant pathways.

Prevalence of small base-pairing RNAs derived from diverse genomic loci

Small RNAs (sRNAs) that act by base-pairing have been shown to play important roles in fine-tuning the levels and translation of their target transcripts across a variety of model and pathogenic organisms. Work from many different groups in a wide range of bacterial species has provided evidence for the importance and complexity of sRNA regulatory networks, which allow bacteria to quickly respond to changes in their environment. However, despite the expansive literature, much remains to be learned about all aspects of sRNA-mediated regulation, particularly in bacteria beyond the well-characterized Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica species. Here we discuss what is known, and what remains to be learned, about the identification of regulatory base-pairing RNAs produced from diverse genomic loci including how their expression is regulated. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: RNA and gene control in bacteria edited by Dr. M. Guillier and F. Repoila.

Trans-Acting Small RNAs and Their Effects on Gene Expression in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica

The last few decades have led to an explosion in our understanding of the major roles that small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) play in regulatory circuits and the responses to stress in many bacterial species. Much of the foundational work was carried out with Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. The studies of these organisms provided an overview of how the sRNAs function and their impact on bacterial physiology, serving as a blueprint for sRNA biology in many other prokaryotes. They also led to the development of new technologies. In this chapter, we first summarize how these sRNAs were identified, defining them in the process. We discuss how they are regulated and how they act and provide selected examples of their roles in regulatory circuits and the consequences of this regulation. Throughout, we summarize the methodologies that were developed to identify and study the regulatory RNAs, most of which are applicable to other bacteria. Newly updated databases of the known sRNAs in E. coli K-12 and S. enterica Typhimurium SL1344 serve as a reference point for much of the discussion and, hopefully, as a resource for readers and for future experiments to address open questions raised in this review.

RNA-Sequencing Analyses of Small Bacterial RNAs and their Emergence as Virulence Factors in Host-Pathogen Interactions

Proteins have long been considered to be the most prominent factors regulating so-called invasive genes involved in host-pathogen interactions. The possible role of small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs), either intracellular, secreted or packaged in outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), remained unclear until recently. The advent of high-throughput RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) techniques has accelerated sRNA discovery. RNA-seq radically changed the paradigm on bacterial virulence and pathogenicity to the point that sRNAs are emerging as an important, distinct class of virulence factors in both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The potential of OMVs, as protectors and carriers of these functional, gene regulatory sRNAs between cells, has also provided an additional layer of complexity to the dynamic host-pathogen relationship. Using a non-exhaustive approach and through examples, this review aims to discuss the involvement of sRNAs, either free or loaded in OMVs, in the mechanisms of virulence and pathogenicity during bacterial infection. We provide a brief overview of sRNA origin and importance, and describe the classical and more recent methods of identification that have enabled their discovery, with an emphasis on the theoretical lower limit of RNA sizes considered for RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses.

Navigation through the twists and turns of RNA sequencing technologies: Application to bacterial regulatory RNAs

Discovered in the 1980s, small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are now considered key actors in virtually all aspects of bacterial physiology and virulence. Together with transcriptional and translational regulatory proteins, they integrate and often are hubs of complex regulatory networks, responsible for bacterial response/adaptation to various perceived stimuli. The recent development of powerful RNA sequencing technologies has facilitated the identification and characterization of sRNAs (length, structure and expression conditions) and their RNA targets in several bacteria. Nevertheless, it could be very difficult for non-experts to understand the advantages and drawbacks related to each offered option and, consequently, to make an informed choice. Therefore, the main goal of this review is to provide a guide to navigate through the twists and turns of high-throughput RNA sequencing technologies, with a specific focus on those applied to the study of sRNAs. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: RNA and gene control in bacteria edited by Dr. M. Guillier and F. Repoila.

Non-coding RNAs: what are we missing?

Over the past two decades, the importance of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) as regulatory molecules has become apparent in all three domains of life (archaea, bacteria, eukaryotes). In fact, sncRNAs play an important role in the control of gene expression at both the transcriptional and the post-transcriptional level, with crucial roles in fine-tuning cell responses during internal and external stress. Multiple pathways for sncRNA biogenesis and diverse mechanisms of regulation have been reported, and although biogenesis and mechanisms of sncRNAs in prokaryotes and eukaryotes are different, remarkable similarities exist. Here, we briefly review and compare the major sncRNA classes that act post-transcriptionally, and focus on recent discoveries regarding the ribosome as a target of regulation and the conservation of these mechanisms between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Recent advances in genetic engineering tools based on synthetic biology

Genome-scale engineering is a crucial methodology to rationally regulate microbiological system operations, leading to expected biological behaviors or enhanced bioproduct yields. Over the past decade, innovative genome modification technologies have been developed for effectively regulating and manipulating genes at the genome level. Here, we discuss the current genome-scale engineering technologies used for microbial engineering. Recently developed strategies, such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9, multiplex automated genome engineering (MAGE), promoter engineering, CRISPR-based regulations, and synthetic small regulatory RNA (sRNA)-based knockdown, are considered as powerful tools for genome-scale engineering in microbiological systems. MAGE, which modifies specific nucleotides of the genome sequence, is utilized as a genome-editing tool. Contrastingly, synthetic sRNA, CRISPRi, and CRISPRa are mainly used to regulate gene expression without modifying the genome sequence. This review introduces the recent genome-scale editing and regulating technologies and their applications in metabolic engineering.

Polynucleotide phosphorylase promotes the stability and function of Hfq-binding sRNAs by degrading target mRNA-derived fragments

In many Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria, small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) that bind the RNA chaperone Hfq have a pivotal role in modulating virulence, stress responses, metabolism and biofilm formation. These sRNAs recognize transcripts through base-pairing, and sRNA–mRNA annealing consequently alters the translation and/or stability of transcripts leading to changes in gene expression. We have previously found that the highly conserved 3′-to-5′ exoribonuclease polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) has an indispensable role in paradoxically stabilizing Hfq-bound sRNAs and promoting their function in gene regulation in Escherichia coli. Here, we report that PNPase contributes to the degradation of specific short mRNA fragments, the majority of which bind Hfq and are derived from targets of sRNAs. Specifically, we found that these mRNA-derived fragments accumulate in the absence of PNPase or its exoribonuclease activity and interact with PNPase. Additionally, we show that mutations in hfq or in the seed pairing region of some sRNAs eliminated the requirement of PNPase for their stability. Altogether, our results are consistent with a model that PNPase degrades mRNA-derived fragments that could otherwise deplete cells of Hfq-binding sRNAs through pairing-mediated decay.

The power of cooperation: Experimental and computational approaches in the functional characterization of bacterial sRNAs

Trans‐acting small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are key players in the regulation of gene expression in bacteria. There are hundreds of different sRNAs in a typical bacterium, which in contrast to eukaryotic microRNAs are more heterogeneous in length, sequence composition, and secondary structure. The vast majority of sRNAs function post‐transcriptionally by binding to other RNAs (mRNAs, sRNAs) through rather short regions of imperfect sequence complementarity. Besides, every single sRNA may interact with dozens of different target RNAs and impact gene expression either negatively or positively. These facts contributed to the view that the entirety of the regulatory targets of a given sRNA, its targetome, is challenging to identify. However, recent developments show that a more comprehensive sRNAs targetome can be achieved through the combination of experimental and computational approaches. Here, we give a short introduction into these methods followed by a description of two sRNAs, RyhB, and RsaA, to illustrate the particular strengths and weaknesses of these approaches in more details. RyhB is an sRNA involved in iron homeostasis in Enterobacteriaceae, while RsaA is a modulator of virulence in Staphylococcus aureus. Using such a combined strategy, a better appreciation of the sRNA‐dependent regulatory networks is now attainable.

Broadening the Definition of Bacterial Small RNAs: Characteristics and Mechanisms of Action

The first report of trans-acting RNA-based regulation in bacterial cells dates back to 1984. Subsequent studies in diverse bacteria unraveled shared properties of trans-acting small regulatory RNAs, forming a clear definition of these molecules. These shared characteristics have been used extensively to identify new small RNAs (sRNAs) and their interactomes. Recently however, emerging technologies able to resolve RNA-RNA interactions have identified new types of regulatory RNAs. In this review, we present a broader definition of trans-acting sRNA regulators and discuss their newly discovered intrinsic characteristics.

Functional expansion of a TCA cycle operon mRNA by a 3' end-derived small RNA

Global RNA profiling studies in bacteria have predicted the existence of many of small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) that are processed off mRNA 3′ ends to regulate other mRNAs via the RNA chaperones Hfq and ProQ. Here, we present targets of SdhX (RybD), an Hfq-dependent sRNA that is generated by RNase E mediated 3′ processing of the ∼10 000-nt mRNA of the TCA cycle operon sdhCDAB-sucABCD in enteric bacteria. An in silico search predicted ackA mRNA, which encodes acetate kinase, as a conserved primary target of SdhX. Through base pairing, SdhX represses AckA synthesis during growth of Salmonella on acetate. Repression can be achieved by a naturally occurring 38-nucleotide SdhX variant, revealing the shortest functional Hfq-associated sRNA yet. Salmonella SdhX also targets the mRNAs of fumB (anaerobic fumarase) and yfbV, a gene of unknown function adjacent to ackA. Instead, through a slightly different seed sequence, SdhX can repress other targets in Escherichia coli, namely katG (catalase) and fdoG (aerobic formate dehydrogenase). This study illustrates how a key operon from central metabolism is functionally connected to other metabolic pathways through a 3′ appended sRNA, and supports the notion that mRNA 3′UTRs are a playground for the evolution of regulatory RNA networks in bacteria.

Reprogramming of gene expression in Escherichia coli cultured on pyruvate versus glucose

Previous studies revealed important roles of small RNAs (sRNAs) in regulation of bacterial metabolism, stress responses and virulence. However, only a minor fraction of sRNAs is well characterized with respect to the spectra of their targets, conditional expression profiles and actual mechanisms they use to regulate gene expression to control particular biological pathways. To learn more about the specific contribution of sRNAs to the global regulatory network controlling the Escherichia coli central carbon metabolism (CCM), we employed microarray analysis and compared transcriptome profiles of E. coli cells grown on two alternative minimal media supplemented with either pyruvate or glucose, respectively. Microarray analysis revealed that utilization of these alternative carbon sources led to profound differences in gene expression affecting all major gene clusters associated with CCM as well as expression of several known (CyaR, RyhB, GcvB and RyeA) and putative (C0652) sRNAs. To assess the impact of transcriptional reprogramming of gene expression on E. coli protein abundance, we also employed two-dimensional protein gel electrophoresis. Our experimental data made it possible to determine the major pathways for pyruvate assimilation when it is used as a sole carbon source and reveal the impact of other key processes (i.e., energy production, molecular transport and cell resistance to stress) associated with the CCM in E. coli. Moreover, some of these processes were apparently controlled by GcvB, RyhB and CyaR at the post-transcriptional level, thus indicating the complexity and interconnection of the regulatory networks that control CCM in bacteria.

Contrasting silencing mechanisms of the same target mRNA by two regulatory RNAs in Escherichia coli

Small RNAs are key components of complex regulatory networks. These molecules can integrate multiple cellular signals to control specific target mRNAs. The recent development of high-throughput methods tremendously helped to characterize the full targetome of sRNAs. Using MS2-affinity purification coupled with RNA sequencing (MAPS) technology, we reveal the targetomes of two sRNAs, CyaR and RprA. Interestingly, both CyaR and RprA interact with the 5′-UTR of hdeD mRNA, which encodes an acid-resistance membrane protein. We demonstrate that CyaR classically binds to the RBS of hdeD, interfering with translational initiation. We identified an A/U-rich motif on hdeD, which is bound by the RNA chaperone Hfq. Our results indicate that binding of this motif by Hfq is required for CyaR-induced degradation of hdeD mRNA. Additional data suggest that two molecules of RprA must bind the 5′-UTR of hdeD to block translation initiation. Surprisingly, while both CyaR and RprA sRNAs bind to the same motif on hdeD mRNA, RprA solely acts at the translational level, leaving the target RNA intact. By interchanging the seed region of CyaR and RprA sRNAs, we also swap their regulatory behavior. These results suggest that slight changes in the seed region could modulate the regulation of target mRNAs.

Redefining the Small Regulatory RNA Transcriptome in Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 2 Strain D39

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a major human respiratory pathogen and a leading cause of bacterial pneumonia worldwide. Small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs), which often act by posttranscriptionally regulating gene expression, have been shown to be crucial for the virulence of S. pneumoniae and other bacterial pathogens. Over 170 putative sRNAs have been identified in the S. pneumoniae TIGR4 strain (serotype 4) through transcriptomic studies, and a subset of these sRNAs has been further implicated in regulating pneumococcal pathogenesis. However, there is little overlap in the sRNAs identified among these studies, which indicates that the approaches used for sRNA identification were not sufficiently sensitive and robust and that there are likely many more undiscovered sRNAs encoded in the S. pneumoniae genome. Here, we sought to comprehensively identify sRNAs in Avery's virulent S. pneumoniae strain D39 using two independent RNA sequencing (RNA-seq)-based approaches. We developed an unbiased method for identifying novel sRNAs from bacterial RNA-seq data and have further tested the specificity of our analysis program toward identifying sRNAs encoded by both strains D39 and TIGR4. Interestingly, the genes for 15% of the putative sRNAs identified in strain TIGR4, including ones previously implicated in virulence, are not present in the strain D39 genome, suggesting that the differences in sRNA repertoires between these two serotypes may contribute to their strain-specific virulence properties. Finally, this study has identified 66 new sRNA candidates in strain D39, 30 of which have been further validated, raising the total number of sRNAs that have been identified in strain D39 to 112.IMPORTANCE Recent work has shown that sRNAs play crucial roles in S. pneumoniae pathogenesis, as inactivation of nearly one-third of the putative sRNA genes identified in one study led to reduced fitness or virulence in a murine model. Yet our understanding of sRNA-mediated gene regulation in S. pneumoniae has been hindered by limited knowledge about these regulatory RNAs, including which sRNAs are synthesized by different S. pneumoniae strains. We sought to address this problem by developing a sensitive sRNA detection technique to identify sRNAs in S. pneumoniae D39. A comparison of our data set reported here to those of other RNA-seq studies for S. pneumoniae strain D39 and TIGR4 has provided new insights into the S. pneumoniae sRNA transcriptome.

A multifaceted small RNA modulates gene expression upon glucose limitation in Staphylococcus aureus

Pathogenic bacteria must rapidly adapt to ever-changing environmental signals resulting in metabolism remodeling. The carbon catabolite repression, mediated by the catabolite control protein A (CcpA), is used to express genes involved in utilization and metabolism of the preferred carbon source. Here, we have identified RsaI as a CcpA-repressed small non-coding RNA that is inhibited by high glucose concentrations. When glucose is consumed, RsaI represses translation initiation of mRNAs encoding a permease of glucose uptake and the FN3K enzyme that protects proteins against damage caused by high glucose concentrations. RsaI also binds to the 3' untranslated region of icaR mRNA encoding the transcriptional repressor of exopolysaccharide production and to sRNAs induced by the uptake of glucose-6 phosphate or nitric oxide. Furthermore, RsaI expression is accompanied by a decreased transcription of genes involved in carbon catabolism pathway and an activation of genes involved in energy production, fermentation, and nitric oxide detoxification. This multifaceted RNA can be considered as a metabolic signature when glucose becomes scarce and growth is arrested.

Transcriptional noise and exaptation as sources for bacterial sRNAs

Understanding how new genes originate and integrate into cellular networks is key to understanding evolution. Bacteria present unique opportunities for both the natural history and experimental study of gene origins, due to their large effective population sizes, rapid generation times, and ease of genetic manipulation. Bacterial small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs), in particular, many of which operate through a simple antisense regulatory logic, may serve as tractable models for exploring processes of gene origin and adaptation. Understanding how and on what timescales these regulatory molecules arise has important implications for understanding the evolution of bacterial regulatory networks, in particular, for the design of comparative studies of sRNA function. Here, we introduce relevant concepts from evolutionary biology and review recent work that has begun to shed light on the timescales and processes through which non-functional transcriptional noise is co-opted to provide regulatory functions. We explore possible scenarios for sRNA origin, focusing on the co-option, or exaptation, of existing genomic structures which may provide protected spaces for sRNA evolution.

Mimicry, deception and competition: The life of competing endogenous RNAs

Since their discovery, small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) were thought to be regulated exclusively at the transcriptional level. However, accumulating data from recent reports indicate that posttranscriptional signals can also modulate the function and stability of sRNAs. One of these posttranscriptional signals are competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). Commonly called RNA sponges, ceRNAs can effectively sequester sRNAs and prevent them from binding their cognate target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Subsequently, they prevent sRNA-dependent regulation of translation and stability of mRNA targets. While some ceRNAs seem to be expressed constitutively, others are intricately regulated according to environmental conditions. The outcome of ceRNA binding to a sRNA reaches beyond simple sequestration. Various effects observed on sRNA functions extend from reducing transcriptional noise to promote RNA turnover. Here, we present a historical perspective of the discovery of ceRNAs in eukaryotic organisms and mainly focus on the synthesis and function of select, well-described, ceRNAs in bacterial cells. This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Small Molecule-RNA Interactions Translation > Translation Regulation RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Regulation of RNA Stability.

SraL sRNA interaction regulates the terminator by preventing premature transcription termination of rho mRNA

Transcription termination is a critical step in the control of gene expression. One of the major termination mechanisms is mediated by Rho factor that dissociates the complex mRNA-DNA-RNA polymerase upon binding with RNA polymerase. Rho promotes termination at the end of operons, but it can also terminate transcription within leader regions, performing regulatory functions and avoiding pervasive transcription. Transcription of rho is autoregulated through a Rho-dependent attenuation in the leader region of the transcript. In this study, we have included an additional player in this pathway. By performing MS2-affinity purification coupled with RNA sequencing (MAPS), rho transcript was shown to directly interact with the small noncoding RNA SraL. Using bioinformatic in vivo and in vitro experimental analyses, SraL was shown to base pair with the 5'-UTR of rho mRNA upregulating its expression in several growth conditions. This base pairing was shown to prevent the action of Rho over its own message. Moreover, the results obtained indicate that both ProQ and Hfq are associated with this regulation. We propose a model that contemplates the action of Salmonella SraL sRNA in the protection of rho mRNA from premature transcription termination by Rho. Note that since the interaction region between both RNAs corresponds to a very-well-conserved sequence, it is plausible to admit that this regulation also occurs in other enterobacteria.

sRNA Target Prediction Organizing Tool (SPOT) Integrates Computational and Experimental Data To Facilitate Functional Characterization of Bacterial Small RNAs

Small RNAs (sRNAs) regulate gene expression in diverse bacteria by interacting with mRNAs to change their structure, stability, or translation. Hundreds of sRNAs have been identified in bacteria, but characterization of their regulatory functions is limited by difficulty with sensitive and accurate identification of mRNA targets. Thus, new robust methods of bacterial sRNA target identification are in demand. Here, we describe our small RNA target prediction organizing tool (SPOT), which streamlines the process of sRNA target prediction by providing a single pipeline that combines available computational prediction tools with customizable results filtering based on experimental data. SPOT allows the user to rapidly produce a prioritized list of predicted sRNA-target mRNA interactions that serves as a basis for further experimental characterization. This tool will facilitate elucidation of sRNA regulons in bacteria, allowing new discoveries regarding the roles of sRNAs in bacterial stress responses and metabolic regulation.

Small RNAs (sRNAs) posttranscriptionally regulate mRNA targets, typically under conditions of environmental stress. Although hundreds of sRNAs have been discovered in diverse bacterial genomes, most sRNAs remain uncharacterized, even in model organisms. Identification of mRNA targets directly regulated by sRNAs is rate-limiting for sRNA functional characterization. To address this, we developed a computational pipeline that we named SPOT for sRNA target prediction organizing tool. SPOT incorporates existing computational tools to search for sRNA binding sites, allows filtering based on experimental data, and organizes the results into a standardized report. SPOT sensitivity (number of correctly predicted targets/number of total known targets) was equal to or exceeded any individual method when used on 12 characterized sRNAs. Using SPOT, we generated a set of target predictions for the sRNA RydC, which was previously shown to positively regulate cfa mRNA, encoding cyclopropane fatty acid synthase. SPOT identified cfa along with additional putative mRNA targets, which we then tested experimentally. Our results demonstrated that in addition to cfa mRNA, RydC also regulates trpE and pheA mRNAs, which encode aromatic amino acid biosynthesis enzymes. Our results suggest that SPOT can facilitate elucidation of sRNA target regulons to expand our understanding of the many regulatory roles played by bacterial sRNAs.

IMPORTANCE Small RNAs (sRNAs) regulate gene expression in diverse bacteria by interacting with mRNAs to change their structure, stability, or translation. Hundreds of sRNAs have been identified in bacteria, but characterization of their regulatory functions is limited by difficulty with sensitive and accurate identification of mRNA targets. Thus, new robust methods of bacterial sRNA target identification are in demand. Here, we describe our small RNA target prediction organizing tool (SPOT), which streamlines the process of sRNA target prediction by providing a single pipeline that combines available computational prediction tools with customizable results filtering based on experimental data. SPOT allows the user to rapidly produce a prioritized list of predicted sRNA-target mRNA interactions that serves as a basis for further experimental characterization. This tool will facilitate elucidation of sRNA regulons in bacteria, allowing new discoveries regarding the roles of sRNAs in bacterial stress responses and metabolic regulation.

GcvB small RNA uses two distinct seed regions to regulate an extensive targetome

GcvB small RNA is described as post-transcriptional regulator of 1-2% of all mRNAs in Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium. At least 24 GcvB:mRNA interactions have been validated in vivo, establishing the largest characterized sRNA targetome. By performing MS2-affinity purification coupled with RNA sequencing (MAPS) technology, we identified seven additional mRNAs negatively regulated by GcvB in E. coli. Contrary to the vast majority of previously known targets, which pair to the well-conserved GcvB R1 region, we validated four mRNAs targeted by GcvB R3 region. This indicates that base-pairing through R3 seed sequence seems relatively common. We also noticed unusual GcvB pairing sites in the coding sequence of two target mRNAs. One of these target mRNAs has a pairing site displaying a unique ACA motif, suggesting that GcvB could hijack a translational enhancer element. The second target mRNA is likely regulated via an active RNase E-mediated mRNA degradation mechanism. Remarkably, we confirmed the importance of the sRNA sponge SroC in the fine-tuning control of GcvB activity in function of growth conditions such as growth phase and nutrient availability.

A cohabiting bacterium alters the spectrum of short RNAs secreted by Escherichia coli

Recently, it has been found that bacteria secrete short RNAs able to affect gene expression in eukaryotic cells, while certain mammalian microRNAs shape the gut microbiome altering bacterial transcriptome. The involvement of bacterial RNAs in communication with other bacteria is also expected, but has not been documented yet. Here, we compared the fractions of extremely short (12-22 nucleotides) RNAs secreted by Escherichia coli grown in a pure culture and jointly with bacteria of the Paenibacillus genus. Besides fragments of rRNAs and tRNAs, abundant in all samples, secreted oligonucleotides (exoRNAs) predominantly contained GC-rich fragments of messenger and antisense RNAs processed from regions with stable secondary structures. They differed in composition from oligonucleotides of intracellular fraction, where fragments of small regulatory RNAs were prevalent. Both fractions contained RNAs capable of forming complementary duplexes, while for exoRNA samples a higher percentage of 3΄-end modified RNAs and different endonuclease cleavage were detected. The presence of a cohabiting bacterium altered the spectrum of E. coli exoRNAs, indicating a population-dependent control over their composition. Possible mechanisms of this effect are discussed.

Regulatory non-coding sRNAs in bacterial metabolic pathway engineering

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are versatile and powerful controllers of gene expression that have been increasingly linked to cellular metabolism and phenotype. In bacteria, identified and characterized ncRNAs range from trans-acting, multi-target small non-coding RNAs to dynamic, cis-encoded regulatory untranslated regions and riboswitches. These native regulators have inspired the design and construction of many synthetic RNA devices. In this work, we review the design, characterization, and impact of ncRNAs in engineering both native and exogenous metabolic pathways in bacteria. We also consider the opportunities afforded by recent high-throughput approaches for characterizing sRNA regulators and their corresponding networks to showcase their potential applications and impact in engineering bacterial metabolism.

Poly(A) polymerase is required for RyhB sRNA stability and function in Escherichia coli

Small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are an important class of bacterial post-transcriptional regulators that control numerous physiological processes, including stress responses. In Gram-negative bacteria including Escherichia coli, the RNA chaperone Hfq binds many sRNAs and facilitates pairing to target transcripts, resulting in changes in mRNA transcription, translation, or stability. Here, we report that poly(A) polymerase (PAP I), which promotes RNA degradation by exoribonucleases through the addition of poly(A) tails, has a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression by Hfq-dependent sRNAs. Specifically, we show that deletion of pcnB, encoding PAP I, paradoxically resulted in an increased turnover of certain Hfq-dependent sRNAs, including RyhB. RyhB instability in the pcnB deletion strain was suppressed by mutations in hfq or ryhB that disrupt pairing of RyhB with target RNAs, by mutations in the 3' external transcribed spacer of the glyW-cysT-leuZ transcript (3'ETS^LeuZ) involved in pairing with RyhB, or an internal deletion in rne, which encodes the endoribonuclease RNase E. Finally, the reduced stability of RyhB in the pcnB deletion strain resulted in impaired regulation of some of its target mRNAs, specifically sodB and sdhCDAB. Altogether our data support a model where PAP I plays a critical role in ensuring the efficient decay of the 3'ETS^LeuZ In the absence of PAP I, the 3'ETS^LeuZ transcripts accumulate, bind Hfq, and pair with RyhB, resulting in its depletion via RNase E-mediated decay. This ultimately leads to a defect in RyhB function in a PAP I deficient strain.

Discovering RNA-Based Regulatory Systems for Yersinia Virulence

The genus Yersinia includes three human pathogenic species, Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of the bubonic and pneumonic plague, and enteric pathogens Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis that cause a number of gut-associated diseases. Over the past years a large repertoire of RNA-based regulatory systems has been discovered in these pathogens using different RNA-seq based approaches. Among them are several conserved or species-specific RNA-binding proteins, regulatory and sensory RNAs as well as various RNA-degrading enzymes. Many of them were shown to control the expression of important virulence-relevant factors and have a very strong impact on Yersinia virulence. The precise targets, the molecular mechanism and their role for Yersinia pathogenicity is only known for a small subset of identified genus- or species-specific RNA-based control elements. However, the ongoing development of new RNA-seq based methods and data analysis methods to investigate the synthesis, composition, translation, decay, and modification of RNAs in the bacterial cell will help us to generate a more comprehensive view of Yersinia RNA biology in the near future.

On the Prowl: An In Vivo Method to Identify RNA Partners of a sRNA

Bacterial cells dispose of numerous strategies to regulate gene expression. Small regulatory RNAs (sRNA) are pervasive molecules that allow gene expression regulation with exquisite precision. These molecules can bind mRNAs and negatively or positively modify their stability and interfere with translation. However, many features of sRNAs render identification of new targets or RNA interacting partners increasingly complex. In this chapter, we present a detailed procedure of MAPS, an in vivo technique based on the copurification of any type of RNA bound to an MS2-tagged sRNA. By focusing on the interaction between two RNAs rather than the outcome of this interaction, MAPS has proven useful in identifying unprecedented sRNA-RNA interactions. Below, we describe how to prepare MAPS samples and how to analyze RNA sequencing data files to determine enrichment ratios of different RNAs in an experimental condition vs a control condition. MAPS can be applied to most sRNAs of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp., and can be easily optimized to more distant bacterial species.

MS2-Affinity Purification Coupled With RNA Sequencing Approach in the Human Pathogen Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive major human pathogen involved in a wide range of human infectious diseases (from minor skin infections to septicemia, endocarditis or toxic shock syndrome). The treatment of S. aureus infections is very challenging due to the emergence of multiple antibiotic-resistant isolates. The high diversity of clinical symptoms caused by S. aureus depends on the precise expression of numerous virulence factors and stress response pathways, which are tightly regulated at every level (transcriptional, posttranscriptional, translational, and posttranslational). During the last two decades, it has become evident that small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) play a major role in fast adaptive responses, mainly by targeting mRNA translation. sRNAs act as antisense RNAs by forming noncontiguous pairings with their target mRNAs and their mechanisms of action vary according to the interaction site. To obtain a global and detailed view of the regulatory networks involved in the adaptive processes of S. aureus, we have adapted the MAPS approach to get individual sRNA targetomes. We also set up different strategies to validate MAPS results and establish sRNA regulatory activities. As this method has been first developed in Gram-negative bacteria, we provide here a protocol for its application in S. aureus and highlight underlying differences. Finally, we discuss several points that have been and could be further improved and provide a workflow file for the automatic analysis of the sequencing in Galaxy.

Intestinal permeability, digestive stability and oral bioavailability of dietary small RNAs

Impactful dietary RNA delivery requires improving uptake and enhancing digestive stability. In mouse feeding regimes, we have demonstrated that a plant-based ribosomal RNA (rRNA), MIR2911, is more bioavailable than synthetic MIR2911 or canonical microRNAs (miRNAs). Here mutagenesis was used to discern if MIR2911 has a distinctive sequence that aids stability and uptake. Various mutations had modest impacts while one scrambled sequence displayed significantly enhanced digestive stability, serum stability, and bioavailability. To assess if small RNA (sRNA) bioavailability in mice could be improved by increasing gut permeability, various diets, genetic backgrounds and pharmacological methods were surveyed. An intraperitoneal injection of anti-CD3 antibody enhanced gut permeability which correlated with improved uptake of the digestively stable scrambled MIR2911 variant. However, the bioavailability of canonical miRNAs was not enhanced. Similarly, interleukin-10 (IL-10)-deficient mice and mice treated with aspirin displayed enhanced gut permeability that did not enhance uptake of most plant-based sRNAs. This work supports a model where dietary RNAs are vulnerable to digestion and altering gut permeability alone will not impact apparent bioavailability. We suggest that some dietary sRNA may be more digestively stable and methods to broadly increase sRNA uptake requires delivery vehicles to optimize gut and serum stability in the consumer.

Regulatory RNAs in Virulence and Host-Microbe Interactions

Bacterial regulatory RNAs are key players in adaptation to changing environmental conditions and response to diverse cellular stresses. However, while regulatory RNAs of bacterial pathogens have been intensely studied under defined conditions in vitro, characterization of their role during the infection of eukaryotic host organisms is lagging behind. This review summarizes our current understanding of the contribution of the different classes of regulatory RNAs and RNA-binding proteins to bacterial virulence and illustrates their role in infection by reviewing the mechanisms of some prominent representatives of each class. Emerging technologies are described that bear great potential for global, unbiased studies of virulence-related RNAs in bacterial model and nonmodel pathogens in the future. The review concludes by deducing common principles of RNA-mediated gene expression control of virulence programs in different pathogens, and by defining important open questions for upcoming research in the field.

Sponges and Predators in the Small RNA World

Most noncoding small RNAs (sRNAs) that regulate gene expression do so by base-pairing with mRNAs, affecting their translation and/or stability. Regulators as evolutionarily distant as the trans-encoded sRNAs of bacteria and the microRNAs (miRNAs) of higher eukaryotes share the property of targeting short sequence segments that occur in multiple copies in bacterial and eukaryotic transcriptomes. This target promiscuity has major implications for sRNA function. On the one hand, it allows the sRNA to coordinately control several different targets and thus be at the center of regulatory networks. On the other hand, it allows the existence of target mimics or decoys that divert the sRNA/miRNA away from bona fide targets and thus serve as mechanisms to regulate the regulator. In addition, by competing for pairing with the same sRNA, bona fide targets establish a cross talk that can impact on each other's expression levels. Here we review evidence that target mimicry and competition are important components of the regulatory architecture of bacterial sRNA networks.

Bacterial regulatory RNAs: complexity, function, and putative drug targeting

Over the past decade, RNA-deep sequencing has uncovered copious non-protein coding RNAs (npcRNAs) in bacteria. Many of them are key players in the regulation of gene expression, taking part in various regulatory circuits, such as metabolic responses to different environmental stresses, virulence, antibiotic resistance, and host-pathogen interactions. This has contributed to the high adaptability of bacteria to changing or even hostile environments. Their mechanisms include the regulation of transcriptional termination, modulation of translation, and alteration of messenger RNA (mRNA) stability, as well as protein sequestration. Here, the mechanisms of gene expression by regulatory bacterial npcRNAs are comprehensively reviewed and supplemented with well-characterized examples. This class of molecules and their mechanisms of action might be useful targets for the development of novel antibiotics.

Transfer RNA instability as a stress response in Escherichia coli: Rapid dynamics of the tRNA pool as a function of demand

Production of the translation apparatus of E. coli is carefully matched to the demand for protein synthesis posed by a given growth condition. For example, the fraction of RNA polymerases that transcribe rRNA and tRNA drops from 80% during rapid growth to 24% within minutes of a sudden amino acid starvation. We recently reported in Nucleic Acids Research that the tRNA pool is more dynamically regulated than previously thought. In addition to the regulation at the level of synthesis, we found that tRNAs are subject to demand-based regulation at the level of their degradation. In this point-of-view article we address the question of why this phenomenon has not previously been described. We also present data that expands on the mechanism of tRNA degradation, and we discuss the possible implications of tRNA instability for the ability of E. coli to cope with stresses that affect the translation process.

Bacterial Small RNAs in Mixed Regulatory Networks

Small regulatory RNAs are now recognized as key regulators of gene expression in bacteria. They accumulate under specific conditions, most often because their synthesis is directly controlled by transcriptional regulators, including but not limited to alternative sigma factors and response regulators of two-component systems. In turn, small RNAs regulate, mostly at the posttranscriptional level, expression of multiple genes, among which are genes encoding transcriptional regulators. Small RNAs are thus embedded in mixed regulatory circuits combining transcriptional and posttranscriptional controls, and whose properties are discussed here.