RNase E-based ribonucleoprotein complexes: mechanical basis of mRNA destabilization mediated by bacterial noncoding RNAs

Small RNA functions in carbon metabolism and virulence of enteric pathogens

Enteric pathogens often cycle between virulent and saprophytic lifestyles. To endure these frequent changes in nutrient availability and composition bacteria possess an arsenal of regulatory and metabolic genes allowing rapid adaptation and high flexibility. While numerous proteins have been characterized with regard to metabolic control in pathogenic bacteria, small non-coding RNAs have emerged as additional regulators of metabolism. Recent advances in sequencing technology have vastly increased the number of candidate regulatory RNAs and several of them have been found to act at the interface of bacterial metabolism and virulence factor expression. Importantly, studying these riboregulators has not only provided insight into their metabolic control functions but also revealed new mechanisms of post-transcriptional gene control. This review will focus on the recent advances in this area of host-microbe interaction and discuss how regulatory small RNAs may help coordinate metabolism and virulence of enteric pathogens.

Riboregulation in plant-associated α-proteobacteria

The symbiotic α-rhizobia Sinorhizobium meliloti, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Rhizobium etli and the related plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens are important model organisms for studying plant-microbe interactions. These metabolically versatile soil bacteria are characterized by complex lifestyles and large genomes. Here we summarize the recent knowledge on their small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) including conservation, function, and interaction of the sRNAs with the RNA chaperone Hfq. In each of these organisms, an inventory of hundreds of cis- and trans-encoded sRNAs with regulatory potential was uncovered by high-throughput approaches and used for the construction of 39 sRNA family models. Genome-wide analyses of hfq mutants and co-immunoprecipitation with tagged Hfq revealed a major impact of the RNA chaperone on the physiology of plant-associated α-proteobacteria including symbiosis and virulence. Highly conserved members of the SmelC411 family are the AbcR sRNAs, which predominantly regulate ABC transport systems. AbcR1 of A. tumefaciens controls the uptake of the plant-generated signaling molecule GABA and is a central regulator of nutrient uptake systems. It has similar functions in S. meliloti and the human pathogen Brucella abortus. As RNA degradation is an important process in RNA-based gene regulation, a short overview on ribonucleases in plant-associated α-proteobacteria concludes this review.

Pleiotropic role of the RNA chaperone protein Hfq in the human pathogen Clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile is an emergent human pathogen and the most common cause of nosocomial diarrhea. Our recent data strongly suggest the importance of RNA-based mechanisms for the control of gene expression in C. difficile. In an effort to understand the function of the RNA chaperone protein Hfq, we constructed and characterized an Hfq-depleted strain in C. difficile. Hfq depletion led to a growth defect, morphological changes, an increased sensitivity to stresses, and a better ability to sporulate and to form biofilms. The transcriptome analysis revealed pleiotropic effects of Hfq depletion on gene expression in C. difficile, including genes encoding proteins involved in sporulation, stress response, metabolic pathways, cell wall-associated proteins, transporters, and transcriptional regulators and genes of unknown function. Remarkably, a great number of genes of the regulon dependent on sporulation-specific sigma factor, SigK, were upregulated in the Hfq-depleted strain. The altered accumulation of several sRNAs and interaction of Hfq with selected sRNAs suggest potential involvement of Hfq in these regulatory RNA functions. Altogether, these results suggest the pleiotropic role of Hfq protein in C. difficile physiology, including processes important for the C. difficile infection cycle, and expand our knowledge of Hfq-dependent regulation in Gram-positive bacteria.

Ex uno plures: clonal reinforcement drives evolution of a simple microbial community

A major goal of genetics is to define the relationship between phenotype and genotype, while a major goal of ecology is to identify the rules that govern community assembly. Achieving these goals by analyzing natural systems can be difficult, as selective pressures create dynamic fitness landscapes that vary in both space and time. Laboratory experimental evolution offers the benefit of controlling variables that shape fitness landscapes, helping to achieve both goals. We previously showed that a clonal population of E. coli experimentally evolved under continuous glucose limitation gives rise to a genetically diverse community consisting of one clone, CV103, that best scavenges but incompletely utilizes the limiting resource, and others, CV101 and CV116, that consume its overflow metabolites. Because this community can be disassembled and reassembled, and involves cooperative interactions that are stable over time, its genetic diversity is sustained by clonal reinforcement rather than by clonal interference. To understand the genetic factors that produce this outcome, and to illuminate the community's underlying physiology, we sequenced the genomes of ancestral and evolved clones. We identified ancestral mutations in intermediary metabolism that may have predisposed the evolution of metabolic interdependence. Phylogenetic reconstruction indicates that the lineages that gave rise to this community diverged early, as CV103 shares only one Single Nucleotide Polymorphism with the other evolved clones. Underlying CV103's phenotype we identified a set of mutations that likely enhance glucose scavenging and maintain redox balance, but may do so at the expense of carbon excreted in overflow metabolites. Because these overflow metabolites serve as growth substrates that are differentially accessible to the other community members, and because the scavenging lineage shares only one SNP with these other clones, we conclude that this lineage likely served as an “engine” generating diversity by creating new metabolic niches, but not the occupants themselves.

The variability of natural systems makes it difficult to deduce how organisms' genotypes manifest as phenotypes, and how communities of interacting organisms arise. Using laboratory experimental evolution we can control this variation. We previously showed that a population of E. coli that originated from a single clone and was cultured in the presence of a single limiting resource, evolves into a stable, three-membered community, wherein one clone excretes metabolites that the others utilize as carbon sources. To discern the genetic factors at work in producing this outcome and to illuminate the community's physiology, we sequenced the genomes of the ancestral and evolved clones. We identified in the ancestor mutations that may have predisposed evolution of cross-feeding. We found that the lineages which gave rise to the community diverged early on, and that the numerically dominant lineage that best scavenges limiting glucose does so as a result of adaptive mutations that enhance glucose uptake but favor fermentative over respiratory pathways, resulting in overflow metabolites. Because this clone produces secondary resources that sustain other community members, and because it shares with them only one mutation, we conclude that it is an “engine” generating diversity by creating new niches, but not the occupants themselves.

The Crc and Hfq proteins of Pseudomonas putida cooperate in catabolite repression and formation of ribonucleic acid complexes with specific target motifs

The Crc protein is a global regulator that has a key role in catabolite repression and optimization of metabolism in Pseudomonads. Crc inhibits gene expression post-transcriptionally, preventing translation of mRNAs bearing an AAnAAnAA motif [the catabolite activity (CA) motif] close to the translation start site. Although Crc was initially believed to bind RNA by itself, this idea was recently challenged by results suggesting that a protein co-purifying with Crc, presumably the Hfq protein, could account for the detected RNA-binding activity. Hfq is an abundant protein that has a central role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Herein, we show that the Pseudomonas putida Hfq protein can recognize the CA motifs of RNAs through its distal face and that Crc facilitates formation of a more stable complex at these targets. Crc was unable to bind RNA in the absence of Hfq. However, pull-down assays showed that Crc and Hfq can form a co-complex with RNA containing a CA motif in vitro. Inactivation of the hfq or the crc gene impaired catabolite repression to a similar extent. We propose that Crc and Hfq cooperate in catabolite repression, probably through forming a stable co-complex with RNAs containing CA motifs to result in inhibition of translation initiation.

RNA binding by Hfq and ring-forming (L)Sm proteins: a trade-off between optimal sequence readout and RNA backbone conformation

The eukaryotic Sm and the Sm-like (LSm) proteins form a large family that includes LSm proteins in archaea and the Hfq proteins in bacteria. Commonly referred to as the (L)Sm protein family, the various members play important roles in RNA processing, decay, and riboregulation. Particularly interesting from a structural point of view is their ability to assemble into doughnut-shaped rings, which allows them to bind preferentially the uridine-rich 3′-end of RNA oligonucleotides. With an emphasis on Hfq, this review compares the RNA-binding properties of the various (L)Sm rings that were recently co-crystallized with RNA substrates, and it discusses how these properties relate to physiological function.

The small RNA SgrS: roles in metabolism and pathogenesis of enteric bacteria

Bacteria adapt to ever-changing habitats through specific responses to internal and external stimuli that result in changes in gene regulation and metabolism. One internal metabolic cue affecting such changes in Escherichia coli and related enteric species is cytoplasmic accumulation of phosphorylated sugars such as glucose-6-phosphate or the non-metabolizable analog α-methylglucoside-6-phosphate. This “glucose-phosphate stress” triggers a dedicated stress response in γ-proteobacteria including several enteric pathogens. The major effector of this stress response is a small RNA (sRNA), SgrS. In E. coli and Salmonella, SgrS regulates numerous mRNA targets via base pairing interactions that result in alterations in mRNA translation and stability. Regulation of target mRNAs allows cells to reduce import of additional sugars and increase sugar efflux. SgrS is an unusual sRNA in that it also encodes a small protein, SgrT, which inhibits activity of the major glucose transporter. The two functions of SgrS, base pairing and production of SgrT, reduce accumulation of phosphorylated sugars and thereby relieve stress and promote growth. Examination of SgrS homologs in many enteric species suggests that SgrS has evolved to regulate distinct targets in different organisms. For example, in Salmonella, SgrS base pairs with sopD mRNA and represses production of the encoded effector protein, suggesting that SgrS may have a specific role in the pathogenesis of some γ-proteobacteria. In this review, we outline molecular mechanisms involved in SgrS regulation of its target mRNAs. We also discuss the response to glucose-phosphate stress in terms of its impact on metabolism, growth physiology, and pathogenesis.

Binding of the RNA chaperone Hfq to the type IV pilus base is crucial for its function in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

The bacterial RNA-binding protein Hfq functions in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. There is evidence in a range of bacteria for specific subcellular localization of Hfq; however, the mechanism and role of Hfq localization remain unclear. Cyanobacteria harbour a subfamily of Hfq that is structurally conserved but exhibits divergent RNA binding sites. Mutational analysis in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 revealed that several conserved amino acids on the proximal side of the Hfq hexamer are crucial not only for Hfq-dependent RNA accumulation but also for phototaxis, the latter of which depends on type IV pili. Co-immunoprecipitation and yeast two-hybrid analysis show that the secretion ATPase PilB1 (a component of the type IV pilus base) is an interaction partner of Hfq. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that Hfq is localized to the cytoplasmic membrane in a PilB1-dependent manner. Concomitantly, Hfq-dependent RNA accumulation is abrogated in a ΔpilB1 mutant, indicating that localization to the pilus base via interaction with PilB1 is essential for Hfq function in cyanobacteria.

A cis-encoded sRNA controls the expression of fabH2 in Yersinia

YsrH is a novel cis-encoded sRNA located on the opposite strand to fabH2, which is essential for fatty acid biosynthesis in bacteria. In this study, YsrH-mediated regulation of fabH2 expression was investigated in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Constitutive and inducible over-expression of YsrH decreased the mRNA level of fabH2, while expression of downstream fabD and fabG remained unaffected. Polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) also played an important role in this regulation process by mediating YsrH decay in the exponential phase. Thus, our data defines a cis-encoded sRNA that regulates fatty acid synthesis via a regulatory mechanism also involving PNPase.

The role of RNases in the regulation of small RNAs

Ribonucleases (RNases) are key factors in the control of biological processes, since they modulate the processing, degradation and quality control of RNAs. This review gives many illustrative examples of the role of RNases in the regulation of small RNAs (sRNAs). RNase E and PNPase have been shown to degrade the free pool of sRNAs. RNase E can also be recruited to cleave mRNAs when they are interacting with sRNAs. RNase III cleaves double-stranded structures, and can cut both the sRNA and its RNA target when they are hybridized. Overall, ribonucleases act as conductors in the control of sRNAs. Therefore, it is very important to further understand their role in the post-transcriptional control of gene expression.

Phenotypic characterization of Salmonella RyhB-1 mutations that modulate target regulation

Recently, we reported the global regulatory roles of the two small RNAs in Salmonella typhimurium, ryhB-1 and ryhB-2. However, the genetic basis of the sRNA-target interactions remains unknown. To identify the nucleotides of RyhB-1 that are functionally important for its regulatory actions, we introduced random single-point mutations into ryhB-1 gene on the chromosome of Salmonella typhimurium carrying a sodB-lacZ translational fusion by an error-prone PCR method. We reasoned that mutants expressing variant RyhB-1 with weakened interaction with sodB transcript would produce a higher level of SodB when compared to wild type, leading to darker blue colonies on X-gal agar plates. Five mutants displaying a significant increase in β-galactosidase activity under the condition inducing RyhB-1 expression were isolated. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of eight target mRNAs in these five mutants were significantly changed when compared to the parent strain. Interestingly, two mutations affected growth and cell survival under H2O2-stressed conditions. The results suggest that there are strong selective constraints against mutational changes in ryhB-1 gene sequence, leading to high levels of nucleotide conservation in ryhB-1 gene sequences among the genus of Salmonella.

Improving the gene-regulation ability of small RNAs by scaffold engineering in Escherichia coli

Noncoding small RNAs are involved in transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulation of target mRNAs by modulating mRNA elongation, stability, or translational efficiency. Many natural trans-encoded small RNAs contain a scaffold that allows binding of the RNA chaperone protein Hfq for conditional gene regulation. Here, we improved the gene regulation abilities of small RNAs by directly fusing the natural Escherichia coli trans-encoded small RNA-derived scaffolds, including Hfq-binding and rho-independent transcription terminator sequences, to the 3' end of the small RNAs that mediate RNA-based gene regulation. As target small RNAs to improve their gene regulation abilities, we selected small RNAs of artificial post-transcriptional riboregulators and transcriptional attenuators. Four different small RNA scaffolds were fused to the riboregulator and attenuator-derived small RNAs. Mutations were introduced into the best small RNA scaffold to improve its gene-regulation ability further. As a result, mutations predicted to stabilize the secondary structures of the small RNA scaffolds dramatically increased its ability to regulate gene expression of both the post-transcriptional riboregulator and transcriptional attenuator systems. We believe our engineered small RNA scaffolds are applicable to other RNA regulators for improving regulatory activity, and engineered small RNA scaffolds may present a valuable strategy to regulate target gene expression strongly.

Riboregulators and the role of Hfq in photosynthetic bacteria

Anoxygenic and oxygenic bacteria directly convert solar energy into biomass using photosynthesis. The formation and composition of photosynthetic complexes has to be tightly controlled in response to environmental conditions, as exposure to sunlight can be harmful due to the generation of reactive oxygen species and the damaging effects of UV irradiation. Therefore, photosynthetic bacteria are exposed to a particular set of regulatory challenges in addition to those that also affect other bacteria, requiring sophisticated regulatory systems. Indeed, hundreds of potential regulatory RNAs have been identified in photosynthetic model bacteria as well as antisense RNAs (asRNAs) of up to several kb in length that protect certain mRNAs from degradation. The trans-acting small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs), PcrZ and PsrR1, control pigment and photosystem biogenesis in Rhodobacter sphaeroides and cyanobacteria, respectively. The asRNAs IsrR and As1_flv4 act as negative regulators and the asRNAs PsbA2R and PsbA3R as positive effectors of photosynthesis gene expression in Synechocystis 6803.

Dual role of transcription and transcript stability in the regulation of gene expression in Escherichia coli cells cultured on glucose at different growth rates

Microorganisms extensively reorganize gene expression to adjust growth rate to changes in growth conditions. At the genomic scale, we measured the contribution of both transcription and transcript stability to regulating messenger RNA (mRNA) concentration in Escherichia coli. Transcriptional control was the dominant regulatory process. Between growth rates of 0.10 and 0.63 h(-1), there was a generic increase in the bulk mRNA transcription. However, many transcripts became less stable and the median mRNA half-life decreased from 4.2 to 2.8 min. This is the first evidence that mRNA turnover is slower at extremely low-growth rates. The destabilization of many, but not all, transcripts at high-growth rate correlated with transcriptional upregulation of genes encoding the mRNA degradation machinery. We identified five classes of growth-rate regulation ranging from mainly transcriptional to mainly degradational. In general, differential stability within polycistronic messages encoded by operons does not appear to be affected by growth rate. We show here that the substantial reorganization of gene expression involving downregulation of tricarboxylic acid cycle genes and acetyl-CoA synthetase at high-growth rates is controlled mainly by transcript stability. Overall, our results demonstrate that the control of transcript stability has an important role in fine-tuning mRNA concentration during changes in growth rate.

RNase E affects the expression of the acyl-homoserine lactone synthase gene sinI in Sinorhizobium meliloti

Quorum sensing of Sinorhizobium meliloti relies on N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) as autoinducers. AHL production increases at high population density, and this depends on the AHL synthase SinI and two transcriptional regulators, SinR and ExpR. Our study demonstrates that ectopic expression of the gene rne, coding for RNase E, an endoribonuclease that is probably essential for growth, prevents the accumulation of AHLs at detectable levels. The ectopic rne expression led to a higher level of rne mRNA and a lower level of sinI mRNA independently of the presence of ExpR, the AHL receptor, and AHLs. In line with this, IPTG (isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside)-induced overexpression of rne resulted in a shorter half-life of sinI mRNA and a strong reduction of AHL accumulation. Moreover, using translational sinI-egfp fusions, we found that sinI expression is specifically decreased upon induced overexpression of rne, independently of the presence of the global posttranscriptional regulator Hfq. The 28-nucleotide 5' untranslated region (UTR) of sinI mRNA was sufficient for this effect. Random amplification of 5' cDNA ends (5'-RACE) analyses revealed a potential RNase E cleavage site at position +24 between the Shine-Dalgarno site and the translation start site. We postulate therefore that RNase E-dependent degradation of sinI mRNA from the 5' end is one of the steps mediating a high turnover of sinI mRNA, which allows the Sin quorum-sensing system to respond rapidly to changes in transcriptional control of AHL production.

The Escherichia coli RNA processing and degradation machinery is compartmentalized within an organized cellular network

We have shown that the multiprotein network of the bacterial RNA processing and degradation is organized within high-order cellular structures. Macromolecular assembly of protein networks could provide a general mechanism to streamline specific pathways within the seemingly non-compartmentalized prokaryotic cytoplasm.

The assembly and distribution in vivo of the Escherichia coli RNA degradosome

We report an analysis in vivo of the RNA degradosome assembly of Escherichia coli. Employing fluorescence microscopy imaging and fluorescence energy transfer (FRET) measurements, we present evidence for in vivo pairwise interactions between RNase E-PNPase (polynucleotide phosphorylase), and RNase E-Enolase. These interactions are absent in a mutant strain with genomically encoded RNase E that lacks the C-terminal half, supporting the role of the carboxy-end domain as the scaffold for the degradosome. We also present evidence for in vivo proximity of Enolase-PNPase and Enolase-RhlB. The data support a model for the RNA degradosome (RNAD), in which the RNase E carboxy-end is proximal to PNPase, more distant to Enolase, and more than 10 nm from RhlB helicase. Our measurements were made in strains with mono-copy chromosomal fusions of the RNAD enzymes with fluorescent proteins, allowing measurement of the expression of the different proteins under different growth and stress conditions.

A small RNA activates CFA synthase by isoform-specific mRNA stabilization

Small RNAs use a diversity of well-characterized mechanisms to repress mRNAs, but how they activate gene expression at the mRNA level remains not well understood. The predominant activation mechanism of Hfq-associated small RNAs has been translational control whereby base pairing with the target prevents the formation of an intrinsic inhibitory structure in the mRNA and promotes translation initiation. Here, we report a translation-independent mechanism whereby the small RNA RydC selectively activates the longer of two isoforms of cfa mRNA (encoding cyclopropane fatty acid synthase) in Salmonella enterica. Target activation is achieved through seed pairing of the pseudoknot-exposed, conserved 5' end of RydC to an upstream region of the cfa mRNA. The seed pairing stabilizes the messenger, likely by interfering directly with RNase E-mediated decay in the 5' untranslated region. Intriguingly, this mechanism is generic such that the activation is equally achieved by seed pairing of unrelated small RNAs, suggesting that this mechanism may be utilized in the design of RNA-controlled synthetic circuits. Physiologically, RydC is the first small RNA known to regulate membrane stability.

Mutations in interaction surfaces differentially impact E. coli Hfq association with small RNAs and their mRNA targets

The RNA chaperone protein Hfq is required for the function of all small RNAs (sRNAs) that regulate mRNA stability or translation by limited base pairing in Escherichia coli. While there have been numerous in vitro studies to characterize Hfq activity and the importance of specific residues, there has been only limited characterization of Hfq mutants in vivo. Here, we use a set of reporters as well as co-immunoprecipitation to examine 14 Hfq mutants expressed from the E. coli chromosome. The majority of the proximal face residues, as expected, were important for the function of sRNAs. The failure of sRNAs to regulate target mRNAs in these mutants can be explained by reduced sRNA accumulation. Two of the proximal mutants, D9A and F39A, acted differently from the others in that they had mixed effects on different sRNA/mRNA pairs and, in the case of F39A, showed differential sRNA accumulation. Mutations of charged residues at the rim of Hfq interfered with positive regulation and gave mixed effects for negative regulation. Some, but not all, sRNAs accumulated to lower levels in rim mutants, suggesting qualitative differences in how individual sRNAs are affected by Hfq. The distal face mutants were expected to disrupt binding of ARN motifs found in mRNAs. They were more defective for positive regulation than negative regulation at low mRNA expression, but the defects could be suppressed by higher levels of mRNA expression. We discuss the implications of these observations for Hfq binding to RNA and mechanisms of action.

The centrality of RNA for engineering gene expression

Synthetic biology holds promise as both a framework for rationally engineering biological systems and a way to revolutionize how we fundamentally understand them. Essential to realizing this promise is the development of strategies and tools to reliably and predictably control and characterize sophisticated patterns of gene expression. Here we review the role that RNA can play towards this goal and make a case for why this versatile, designable, and increasingly characterizable molecule is one of the most powerful substrates for engineering gene expression at our disposal. We discuss current natural and synthetic RNA regulators of gene expression acting at key points of control – transcription, mRNA degradation, and translation. We also consider RNA structural probing and computational RNA structure predication tools as a way to study RNA structure and ultimately function. Finally, we discuss how next-generation sequencing methods are being applied to the study of RNA and to the characterization of RNA's many properties throughout the cell.

Initiation of mRNA decay in bacteria

The instability of messenger RNA is fundamental to the control of gene expression. In bacteria, mRNA degradation generally follows an "all-or-none" pattern. This implies that if control is to be efficient, it must occur at the initiating (and presumably rate-limiting) step of the degradation process. Studies of E. coli and B. subtilis, species separated by 3 billion years of evolution, have revealed the principal and very disparate enzymes involved in this process in the two organisms. The early view that mRNA decay in these two model organisms is radically different has given way to new models that can be resumed by "different enzymes-similar strategies". The recent characterization of key ribonucleases sheds light on an impressive case of convergent evolution that illustrates that the surprisingly similar functions of these totally unrelated enzymes are of general importance to RNA metabolism in bacteria. We now know that the major mRNA decay pathways initiate with an endonucleolytic cleavage in E. coli and B. subtilis and probably in many of the currently known bacteria for which these organisms are considered representative. We will discuss here the different pathways of eubacterial mRNA decay, describe the major players and summarize the events that can precede and/or favor nucleolytic inactivation of a mRNA, notably the role of the 5' end and translation initiation. Finally, we will discuss the role of subcellular compartmentalization of transcription, translation, and the RNA degradation machinery.

Depletion of glycolytic intermediates plays a key role in glucose-phosphate stress in Escherichia coli

In bacteria like Escherichia coli, the accumulation of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) or its analogs such as α-methyl glucoside-6-phosphate (αMG6P) results in stress that appears in the form of growth inhibition. The small RNA SgrS is an essential part of the response that helps E. coli combat glucose-phosphate stress; the growth of sgrS mutants during stress caused by αMG is significantly impaired. The cause of this stress is not currently known but may be due to either toxicity of accumulated sugar-phosphates or to depletion of metabolic intermediates. Here, we present evidence that glucose-phosphate stress results from depletion of glycolytic intermediates. Addition of glycolytic compounds like G6P and fructose-6-phosphate rescues the αMG growth defect of an sgrS mutant. These intermediates also markedly decrease induction of the stress response in both wild-type and sgrS strains grown with αMG, implying that cells grown with these intermediates experience less stress. Moreover, αMG transport assays confirm that G6P relieves stress even when αMG is taken up by the cell, strongly suggesting that accumulated αMG6P per se does not cause stress. We also report that addition of pyruvate during stress has a novel lethal effect on the sgrS mutant, resulting in cell lysis. The phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) synthetase PpsA, which converts pyruvate to PEP, can confer resistance to pyruvate-induced lysis when ppsA is ectopically expressed in the sgrS mutant. Taken as a whole, these results provide the strongest evidence thus far that depletion of glycolytic intermediates is at the metabolic root of glucose-phosphate stress.

Regulation of bacterial metabolism by small RNAs using diverse mechanisms

Bacteria live in many dynamic environments with alternating cycles of feast or famine that have resulted in the evolution of mechanisms to quickly alter their metabolic capabilities. Such alterations often involve complex regulatory networks that modulate expression of genes involved in nutrient uptake and metabolism. A great number of protein regulators of metabolism have been characterized in depth. However, our ever-increasing understanding of the roles played by RNA regulators has revealed far greater complexity to regulation of metabolism in bacteria. Here, we review the mechanisms and functions of selected bacterial RNA regulators and discuss their importance in modulating nutrient uptake as well as primary and secondary metabolic pathways.

The complete Campylobacter jejuni transcriptome during colonization of a natural host determined by RNAseq

Campylobacter jejuni is a major human pathogen and a leading cause of bacterial derived gastroenteritis worldwide. C. jejuni regulates gene expression under various environmental conditions and stresses, indicative of its ability to survive in diverse niches. Despite this ability to highly regulate gene transcription, C. jejuni encodes few transcription factors and its genome lacks many canonical transcriptional regulators. High throughput deep sequencing of mRNA transcripts (termed RNAseq) has been used to study the transcriptome of many different organisms, including C. jejuni; however, this technology has yet to be applied to defining the transcriptome of C. jejuni during in vivo colonization of its natural host, the chicken. In addition to its use in profiling the abundance of annotated genes, RNAseq is a powerful tool for identifying and quantifying, as-of-yet, unknown transcripts including non-coding regulatory RNAs, 5’ untranslated regulatory elements, and anti-sense transcripts. Here we report the complete transcriptome of C. jejuni during colonization of the chicken cecum and in two different in vitro growth phases using strand-specific RNAseq. Through this study, we identified over 250 genes differentially expressed in vivo in addition to numerous putative regulatory RNAs, including trans-acting non-coding RNAs and anti-sense transcripts. These latter potential regulatory elements were not identified in two prior studies using ORF-based microarrays, highlighting the power and value of the RNAseq approach. Our results provide new insights into how C. jejuni responds and adapts to the cecal environment and reveals new functions involved in colonization of its natural host.

Deciphering the interplay between two independent functions of the small RNA regulator SgrS in Salmonella

Bacterial dual-function small RNAs regulate gene expression by RNA-RNA base pairing and also code for small proteins. SgrS is a dual-function small RNA in Escherichia coli and Salmonella that is expressed under stress conditions associated with accumulation of sugar-phosphates, and its activity is crucial for growth during stress. The base-pairing function of SgrS regulates a number of mRNA targets, resulting in reduced uptake and enhanced efflux of sugars. SgrS also encodes the SgrT protein, which reduces sugar uptake by a mechanism that is independent of base pairing. While SgrS base-pairing activity has been characterized in detail, little is known about how base pairing and translation of sgrT are coordinated. In the current study, we utilized a series of mutants to determine how translation of sgrT affected the efficiency of base pairing-dependent regulation and vice versa. Mutations that abrogated sgrT translation had minimal effects on base-pairing activity. Conversely, mutations that impaired base-pairing interactions resulted in increased SgrT production. Furthermore, while ectopic overexpression of sgrS mutant alleles lacking only one of the two functions rescued cell growth under stress conditions, the SgrS base-pairing function alone was indispensable for growth rescue when alleles were expressed from the native locus. Collectively, the results suggest that during stress, repression of sugar transporter synthesis via base pairing with sugar transporter mRNAs is the first priority of SgrS. Subsequently, SgrT is made and acts on preexisting transporters. The combined action of these two functions produces an effective stress response.

The virulence of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium in the insect model galleria mellonella is impaired by mutations in RNase E and RNase III

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is a Gram-negative bacterium able to invade and replicate inside eukaryotic cells. To cope with the host defense mechanisms, the bacterium has to rapidly remodel its transcriptional status. Regulatory RNAs and ribonucleases are the factors that ultimately control the fate of mRNAs and final protein levels in the cell. There is growing evidence of the direct involvement of these factors in bacterial pathogenicity. In this report, we validate the use of a Galleria mellonela model in S. Typhimurium pathogenicity studies through the parallel analysis of a mutant with a mutation in hfq, a well-established Salmonella virulence gene. The results obtained with this mutant are similar to the ones reported in a mouse model. Through the use of this insect model, we demonstrate a role for the main endoribonucleases RNase E and RNase III in Salmonella virulence. These ribonuclease mutants show an attenuated virulence phenotype, impairment in motility, and reduced proliferation inside the host. Interestingly, the two mutants trigger a distinct immune response in the host, and the two mutations seem to have an impact on distinct bacterial functions.

Hfq binding changes the structure of Escherichia coli small noncoding RNAs OxyS and RprA, which are involved in the riboregulation of rpoS

OxyS and RprA are two small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) that modulate the expression of rpoS, encoding an alternative sigma factor that activates transcription of multiple Escherichia coli stress-response genes. While RprA activates rpoS for translation, OxyS down-regulates the transcript. Crucially, the RNA binding protein Hfq is required for both sRNAs to function, although the specific role played by Hfq remains unclear. We have investigated RprA and OxyS interactions with Hfq using biochemical and biophysical approaches. In particular, we have obtained the molecular envelopes of the Hfq-sRNA complexes using small-angle scattering methods, which reveal key molecular details. These data indicate that Hfq does not substantially change shape upon complex formation, whereas the sRNAs do. We link the impact of Hfq binding, and the sRNA structural changes induced, to transcript stability with respect to RNase E degradation. In light of these findings, we discuss the role of Hfq in the opposing regulatory functions played by RprA and OxyS in rpoS regulation.

A small RNA serving both the Hfq and CsrA regulons

The abundant RNA-binding proteins CsrA and Hfq each impact bacterial physiology by working in conjunction with small RNAs to control large post-transcriptional regulons. The small RNAs involved were considered mechanistically distinct, regulating mRNAs either directly through Hfq-mediated base-pairing or indirectly by sequestering the global translational repressor CsrA. In this issue of Genes & Development, Jørgensen and colleagues (pp. 1132-1145) blur these distinctions with a dual-mechanism small RNA that acts through both Hfq and CsrA to regulate the formation of bacterial biofilms.

Determinants in the rpsT mRNAs recognized by the 5'-sensor domain of RNase E

RNase E plays a central role in processing virtually all classes of cellular RNA in many bacterial species. A characteristic feature of RNase E and its paralogue RNase G, as well as several other unrelated ribonucleases, is their preference for 5'-monophosphorylated substrates. The basis for this property has been explored in vitro. At limiting substrate, cleavage of the rpsT mRNA by RNase E (residues 1-529) is inefficient, requiring excess enzyme. The rpsT mRNA is cleaved sequentially in a 5' to 3' direction, with the initial cleavage(s) at positions 116/117 or 190/191 being largely driven by direct entry, independent of the 5'-terminus or the 5'-sensor domain of RNase E. Generation of the 147 nt 3'-limit product requires sequential cleavages that generate 5'-monophosphorylated termini on intermediates, and the 5'-sensor domain of RNase E. These requirements can be bypassed with limiting enzyme by deleting a stem-loop structure adjacent to the site of the major, most distal cleavage. Alternatively, this specific cleavage can be activated substantially by a 5'-phosphorylated oligonucleotide annealed 5' to the cleavage site. This finding suggests that monophosphorylated small RNAs may destabilize their mRNA targets by recruiting the 5-sensor domain of RNase E 'in trans'.

Small RNA-mediated activation of sugar phosphatase mRNA regulates glucose homeostasis

Glucose homeostasis is strictly controlled in all domains of life. Bacteria that are unable to balance intracellular sugar levels and deal with potentially toxic phosphosugars cease growth and risk being outcompeted. Here, we identify the conserved haloacid dehalogenase (HAD)-like enzyme YigL as the previously hypothesized phosphatase for detoxification of phosphosugars and reveal that its synthesis is activated by an Hfq-dependent small RNA in Salmonella typhimurium. We show that the glucose-6-P-responsive small RNA SgrS activates YigL synthesis in a translation-independent fashion by the selective stabilization of a decay intermediate of the dicistronic pldB-yigL messenger RNA (mRNA). Intriguingly, the major endoribonuclease RNase E, previously known to function together with small RNAs to degrade mRNA targets, is also essential for this process of mRNA activation. The exploitation of and targeted interference with regular RNA turnover described here may constitute a general route for small RNAs to rapidly activate both coding and noncoding genes.

Identifying and characterizing Hfq-RNA interactions

To regulate stress responses and virulence, bacteria use small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs). These RNAs can up or down regulate target mRNAs through base pairing by influencing ribosomal access and RNA decay. A large class of these sRNAs, called trans-encoded sRNAs, requires the RNA binding protein Hfq to facilitate base pairing between the regulatory RNA and its target mRNA. The resulting network of regulation is best characterized in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium, but the importance of Hfq dependent sRNA regulation is recognized in a diverse population of bacteria. In this review we present the approaches and methods used to discover Hfq binding RNAs, characterize their interactions and elucidate their functions.

Gene expression control by selective RNA processing and stabilization in bacteria

RNA maturation is a key event regulating genes at post-transcriptional level. In bacteria, it is employed to adjust the amounts of proteins and functional RNAs, often in response to environmental constraints. During the process of RNA maturation, enzymes and factors that would otherwise promote RNA degradation convert a labile RNA into a stable and biologically functional molecule.

The sRNA RyhB regulates the synthesis of the Escherichia coli methionine sulfoxide reductase MsrB but not MsrA

Controlling iron homeostasis is crucial for all aerobically grown living cells that are exposed to oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS), as free iron increases the production of ROS. Methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msr) are key enzymes in repairing ROS-mediated damage to proteins, as they reduce oxidized methionine (MetSO) residues to methionine. E. coli synthesizes two Msr, A and B, which exhibit substrate diastereospecificity. The bacterial iron-responsive small RNA (sRNA) RyhB controls iron metabolism by modulating intracellular iron usage. We show in this paper that RyhB is a direct regulator of the msrB gene that encodes the MsrB enzyme. RyhB down-regulates msrB transcripts along with Hfq and RNaseE proteins since mutations in the ryhB, fur, hfq, or RNaseE-encoded genes resulted in iron-insensitive expression of msrB. Our results show that RyhB binds to two sequences within the short 5'UTR of msrB mRNA as identified by reverse transcriptase and RNase and lead (II) protection assays. Toeprinting analysis shows that RyhB pairing to msrB mRNA prevents efficient ribosome binding and thereby inhibits translation initiation. In vivo site directed-mutagenesis experiments in the msrB 5'UTR region indicate that both RyhB-pairing sites are required to decrease msrB expression. Thus, this study suggests a novel mechanism of translational regulation where a same sRNA can basepair to two different locations within the same mRNA species. In contrast, expression of msrA is not influenced by changes in iron levels.

Bacterial sRNAs: regulation in stress

Bacteria are often exposed to a hostile environment and have developed a plethora of cellular processes in order to survive. A burgeoning list of small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) has been identified and reported to orchestrate crucial stress responses in bacteria. Among them, cis-encoded sRNA, trans-encoded sRNA, and 5'-untranslated regions (UTRs) of the protein coding sequence are influential in the bacterial response to environmental cues, such as fluctuation of temperature and pH as well as other stress conditions. This review summarizes the role of bacterial sRNAs in modulating selected stress conditions and highlights the alliance between stress response and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) in bacterial defense.

Intracellular ribonucleases involved in transcript processing and decay: precision tools for RNA

In order to adapt to changing environmental conditions and regulate intracellular events such as division, cells are constantly producing new RNAs while discarding old or defective transcripts. These functions require the coordination of numerous ribonucleases that precisely cleave and trim newly made transcripts to produce functional molecules, and rapidly destroy unnecessary cellular RNAs. In recent years our knowledge of the nature, functions and structures of these enzymes in bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes has dramatically expanded. We present here a synthetic overview of the recent development in this dynamic area which has seen the identification of many new endoribonucleases and exoribonucleases. Moreover, the increasing pace at which the structures of these enzymes, or of their catalytic domains, have been solved has provided atomic level detail into their mechanisms of action. Based on sequence conservation and structural data, these proteins have been grouped into families, some of which contain only ribonuclease members, others including a variety of nucleolytic enzymes that act upon DNA and/or RNA. At the other extreme some ribonucleases belong to families of proteins involved in a wide variety of enzymatic reactions. Functional characterization of these fascinating enzymes has provided evidence for the extreme diversity of their biological functions that include, for example, removal of poly(A) tails (deadenylation) or poly(U) tails from eukaryotic RNAs, processing of tRNA and mRNA 3' ends, maturation of rRNAs and destruction of unnecessary mRNAs. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: RNA Decay mechanisms.

Structure and RNA-binding properties of the bacterial LSm protein Hfq

Over the past years, small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) emerged as important modulators of gene expression in bacteria. Guided by partial sequence complementarity, these sRNAs interact with target mRNAs and eventually affect transcript stability and translation. The physiological function of sRNAs depends on the protein Hfq, which binds sRNAs in the cell and promotes the interaction with their mRNA targets. This important physiological function of Hfq as a central hub of sRNA-mediated regulation made it one of the most intensely studied proteins in bacteria. Recently, a new model for sRNA binding by Hfq has been proposed that involves the direct recognition of the sRNA 3' end and interactions of the sRNA body with the lateral RNA-binding surface of Hfq. This review summarizes the current understanding of the RNA binding properties of Hfq and its (s)RNA complexes. Moreover, the implications of the new binding model for sRNA-mediated regulation are discussed.

Phosphotransferase system-mediated glucose uptake is repressed in phosphoglucoisomerase-deficient Corynebacterium glutamicum strains

Corynebacterium glutamicum is particularly known for its industrial application in the production of amino acids. Amino acid overproduction comes along with a high NADPH demand, which is covered mainly by the oxidative part of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). In previous studies, the complete redirection of the carbon flux toward the PPP by chromosomal inactivation of the pgi gene, encoding the phosphoglucoisomerase, has been applied for the improvement of C. glutamicum amino acid production strains, but this was accompanied by severe negative effects on the growth characteristics. To investigate these effects in a genetically defined background, we deleted the pgi gene in the type strain C. glutamicum ATCC 13032. The resulting strain, C. glutamicum Δpgi, lacked detectable phosphoglucoisomerase activity and grew poorly with glucose as the sole substrate. Apart from the already reported inhibition of the PPP by NADPH accumulation, we detected a drastic reduction of the phosphotransferase system (PTS)-mediated glucose uptake in C. glutamicum Δpgi. Furthermore, Northern blot analyses revealed that expression of ptsG, which encodes the glucose-specific EII permease of the PTS, was abolished in this mutant. Applying our findings, we optimized l-lysine production in the model strain C. glutamicum DM1729 by deletion of pgi and overexpression of plasmid-encoded ptsG. l-Lysine yields and productivity with C. glutamicum Δpgi(pBB1-ptsG) were significantly higher than those with C. glutamicum Δpgi(pBB1). These results show that ptsG overexpression is required to overcome the repressed activity of PTS-mediated glucose uptake in pgi-deficient C. glutamicum strains, thus enabling efficient as well as fast l-lysine production.

The interplay of Hfq, poly(A) polymerase I and exoribonucleases at the 3' ends of RNAs resulting from Rho-independent termination: A tentative model

Discovered in eukaryotes as a modification essential for mRNA function, polyadenylation was then identified as a means used by all cells to destabilize RNA. In Escherichia coli, most accessible 3' RNA extremities are believed to be potential targets of poly(A) polymerase I. However, some RNAs might be preferentially adenylated. After a short statement of the current knowledge of poly(A) metabolism, we discuss how Hfq could affect recognition and polyadenylation of RNA terminated by Rho-independent terminators. Comparison of RNA terminus leads to the proposal that RNAs harboring 3' terminal features required for Hfq binding are not polyadenylated, whereas those lacking these structural elements can gain the oligo(A) tails that initiate exonucleolytic degradation. We also speculate that Hfq stimulates the synthesis of longer tails that could be used as Hfq-binding sites involved in non-characterized functions of Hfq-dependent sRNAs.

Lsm proteins and Hfq: Life at the 3' end

The bacterial Hfq protein is a versatile modulator of RNA function and is particularly important for regulation mediated by small non-coding RNAs. Hfq is a bacterial Sm protein but bears more similarity to the eukaryotic Sm-like (Lsm) family of proteins than the prototypical Sm proteins. Hfq and Lsm proteins share the ability to chaperone RNA-RNA and RNA/protein interactions and an interesting penchant for protecting the 3′ end of a transcript from exonucleolytic decay while encouraging degradation through other pathways. Our view of Lsm function in eukaryotes has historically been informed by studies of Hfq structure and function but mutational analyses and structural studies of Lsm sub-complexes have given important insights as well. Here, we aim to compare and contrast the roles of these evolutionarily related complexes and to highlight areas for future investigation.

Exploring sRNA-mediated gene silencing mechanisms using artificial small RNAs derived from a natural RNA scaffold in Escherichia coli

An artificial small RNA (afsRNA) scaffold was designed from an Escherichia coli sRNA, SibC. Using the lacZ reporter system, the gene silencing effects of afsRNAs were examined to explore the sRNA-mediated gene-silencing mechanisms in E. coli. Substitution of the original target recognition sequence with a new sequence recognizing lacZ mRNA led to effective reduction of lacZ gene expression. Single-strandedness of the target recognition sequences in the scaffold was essential for effective gene silencing. The target recognition sequence was shortened to 10 nt without significant loss of gene silencing, although this minimal length was limited to a specific target mRNA sequence. In cases where afsRNAs had mismatched (forming internal loops) or unmatched (forming bulges) regions in the middle of the target recognition sequence, internal loop-forming afsRNAs were more effective in gene silencing than those that formed bulges. Unexpectedly, gene silencing by afsRNA was not decreased but increased on hfq disruption in E. coli, particularly when interactions between afsRNA and mRNA were weak, suggesting that Hfq is possibly involved in destabilization of the RNA–RNA duplex, rather than enhancement of base pairing.

Bacterial small RNA-based negative regulation: Hfq and its accomplices

A large group of bacterial small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) use the Hfq chaperone to mediate pairing with and regulation of mRNAs. Recent findings help to clarify how Hfq acts and highlight the role of the endonuclease RNase E and its associated proteins (the degradosome) in negative regulation by these sRNAs. sRNAs frequently uncouple transcription and translation by blocking ribosome access to the mRNA, allowing other proteins access to the mRNA. As more examples of sRNA-mediated regulation are studied, more variations on how Hfq, RNase E, and other proteins collaborate to bring about sRNA-based regulation are being found.

Small RNA modules confer different stabilities and interact differently with multiple targets

Bacterial Hfq-associated small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) parallel animal microRNAs in their ability to control multiple target mRNAs. The small non-coding MicA RNA represses the expression of several genes, including major outer membrane proteins such as ompA, tsx and ecnB. In this study, we have characterised the RNA determinants involved in the stability of MicA and analysed how they influence the expression of its targets. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to construct MicA mutated forms. The 5′linear domain, the structured region with two stem-loops, the A/U-rich sequence or the 3′ poly(U) tail were altered without affecting the overall secondary structure of MicA. The stability and the target regulation abilities of the wild-type and the different mutated forms of MicA were then compared. The 5′ domain impacted MicA stability through an RNase III-mediated pathway. The two stem-loops showed different roles and disruption of stem-loop 2 was the one that mostly affected MicA stability and abundance. Moreover, STEM2 was found to be more important for the in vivo repression of both ompA and ecnB mRNAs while STEM1 was critical for regulation of tsx mRNA levels. The A/U-rich linear sequence is not the only Hfq-binding site present in MicA and the 3′ poly(U) sequence was critical for sRNA stability. PNPase was shown to be an important exoribonuclease involved in sRNA degradation. In addition to the 5′ domain of MicA, the stem-loops and the 3′ poly(U) tail are also shown to affect target-binding. Disruption of the 3′U-rich sequence greatly affects all targets analysed. In conclusion, our results have shown that it is important to understand the “sRNA anatomy” in order to modulate its stability. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that MicA RNA can use different modules to regulate its targets. This knowledge can allow for the engineering of non-coding RNAs that interact differently with multiple targets.

Identification of small RNAs in Mycobacterium smegmatis using heterologous Hfq

Gene regulation by small RNAs (sRNAs) has been extensively studied in various bacteria. However, the presence and roles of sRNAs in mycobacteria remain largely unclear. Immunoprecipitation of RNA chaperone Hfq to enrich for sRNAs is one of the effective methods to isolate sRNAs. However, the lack of an identified mycobacterial hfq restricts the feasibility of this approach. We developed a novel method that takes advantage of the conserved inherent sRNAs-binding capability of heterologous Hfq from Escherichia coli to enrich sRNAs from Mycobacterium smegmatis, a model organism for studying Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We validated 12 trans-encoded and 12 cis-encoded novel sRNAs in M. smegmatis. Many of these sRNAs are differentially expressed at exponential phase compared with stationary phase, suggesting that sRNAs are involved in the growth of mycobacteria. Intriguingly, five of the cis-encoded novel sRNAs target known transposases. Phylogenetic conservation analysis shows that these sRNAs are pathogenicity dependent. We believe that our findings will serve as an important reference for future analysis of sRNAs regulation in mycobacteria and will contribute significantly to the development of sRNAs prediction programs. Moreover, this novel method of using heterologous Hfq for sRNAs enrichment can be of general use for the discovery of bacterial sRNAs in which no endogenous Hfq is identified.

Facets of small RNA-mediated regulation in Legionella pneumophila

Legionella pneumophila is a water-borne pathogen that causes a severe lung infection in humans. It is able to replicate inside amoeba in the water environment, and inside lung macrophages in humans. Efficient regulation of gene expression is critical for responding to the conditions that L. pneumophila encounters and for intracellular multiplication in host cells. In the last two decades, many reports have contributed to our understanding of the critical importance of small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) in the regulatory network of bacterial species. This report presents the current state of knowledge about the sRNAs expressed by L. pneumophila and discusses a few regulatory pathways in which sRNAs should be involved in this pathogen.

Recognition of the 70S ribosome and polysome by the RNA degradosome in Escherichia coli

The RNA degradosome is a multi-enzyme assembly that contributes to key processes of RNA metabolism, and it engages numerous partners in serving its varied functional roles. Small domains within the assembly recognize collectively a diverse range of macromolecules, including the core protein components, the cytoplasmic lipid membrane, mRNAs, non-coding regulatory RNAs and precursors of structured RNAs. We present evidence that the degradosome can form a stable complex with the 70S ribosome and polysomes, and we demonstrate the proximity in vivo of ribosomal proteins and the scaffold of the degradosome, RNase E. The principal interactions are mapped to two, independent, RNA-binding domains from RNase E. RhlB, the RNA helicase component of the degradosome, also contributes to ribosome binding, and this is favoured through an activating interaction with RNase E. The catalytic activity of RNase E for processing 9S RNA (the ribosomal 5S RNA precursor) is repressed in the presence of the ribosome, whereas there is little affect on the cleavage of single-stranded substrates mediated by non-coding RNA, suggestings that the enzyme retains capacity to cleave unstructured substrates when associated with the ribosome. We propose that polysomes may act as antennae that enhance the rates of capture of the limited number of degradosomes, so that they become recruited to sites of active translation to act on mRNAs as they become exposed or tagged for degradation.

Quantitative proteomic analysis of the Hfq-regulon in Sinorhizobium meliloti 2011

Riboregulation stands for RNA-based control of gene expression. In bacteria, small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) are a major class of riboregulatory elements, most of which act at the post-transcriptional level by base-pairing target mRNA genes. The RNA chaperone Hfq facilitates antisense interactions between target mRNAs and regulatory sRNAs, thus influencing mRNA stability and/or translation rate. In the α-proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti strain 2011, the identification and detection of multiple sRNAs genes and the broadly pleitropic phenotype associated to the absence of a functional Hfq protein both support the existence of riboregulatory circuits controlling gene expression to ensure the fitness of this bacterium in both free living and symbiotic conditions. In order to identify target mRNAs subject to Hfq-dependent riboregulation, we have compared the proteome of an hfq mutant and the wild type S. meliloti by quantitative proteomics following protein labelling with ¹⁵N. Among 2139 univocally identified proteins, a total of 195 proteins showed a differential abundance between the Hfq mutant and the wild type strain; 65 proteins accumulated ≥2-fold whereas 130 were downregulated (≤0.5-fold) in the absence of Hfq. This profound proteomic impact implies a major role for Hfq on regulation of diverse physiological processes in S. meliloti, from transport of small molecules to homeostasis of iron and nitrogen. Changes in the cellular levels of proteins involved in transport of nucleotides, peptides and amino acids, and in iron homeostasis, were confirmed with phenotypic assays. These results represent the first quantitative proteomic analysis in S. meliloti. The comparative analysis of the hfq mutant proteome allowed identification of novel strongly Hfq-regulated genes in S. meliloti.

RNA helicases: diverse roles in prokaryotic response to abiotic stress

Similar to proteins, RNA molecules must fold into the correct conformation and associate with protein complexes in order to be functional within a cell. RNA helicases rearrange RNA secondary structure and RNA-protein interactions in an ATP-dependent reaction, performing crucial functions in all aspects of RNA metabolism. In prokaryotes, RNA helicase activity is associated with roles in housekeeping functions including RNA turnover, ribosome biogenesis, translation and small RNA metabolism. In addition, RNA helicase expression and/or activity are frequently altered during cellular response to abiotic stress, implying they perform defined roles during cellular adaptation to changes in the growth environment. Specifically, RNA helicases contribute to the formation of cold-adapted ribosomes and RNA degradosomes, implying a role in alleviation of RNA secondary structure stabilization at low temperature. A common emerging theme involves RNA helicases acting as scaffolds for protein-protein interaction and functioning as molecular clamps, holding RNA-protein complexes in specific conformations. This review highlights recent advances in DEAD-box RNA helicase association with cellular response to abiotic stress in prokaryotes.