A trans-acting riboswitch controls expression of the virulence regulator PrfA in Listeria monocytogenes.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 19914169.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2009.08.046.
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Abstract
Riboswitches are RNA elements acting in cis, controlling expression of their downstream genes through a metabolite-induced alteration of their secondary structure. Here, we demonstrate that two S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) riboswitches, SreA and SreB, can also function in trans and act as noncoding RNAs in Listeria monocytogenes. SreA and SreB control expression of the virulence regulator PrfA by binding to the 5'-untranslated region of its mRNA. Absence of the SAM riboswitches SreA and SreB increases the level of PrfA and virulence gene expression in L. monocytogenes. Thus, the impact of the SAM riboswitches on PrfA expression highlights a link between bacterial virulence and nutrient availability. Together, our results uncover an unexpected role for riboswitches and a distinct class of regulatory noncoding RNAs in bacteria.
Medical subject headings
- Bacterial Proteins
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Peptide Termination Factors
- Regulatory Sequences, Ribonucleic Acid