A small RNA activates CFA synthase by a reprogrammable mechanism of mRNA stabilization
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ABSTRACT: 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 activation mechanism is fully generic in that it can be reprogrammed to other seed pairing small RNAs, suggesting this mechanism may be utilised in the design of RNA-controlled synthetic circuits. Physiologically, RydC is the first small RNA known to regulate membrane stability.
ORGANISM(S): Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium str. SL1344
PROVIDER: GSE48221 | GEO | 2013/06/24
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA209314
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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