An RNA-binding protein acts as a major post-transcriptional modulator in Bacillus anthracis.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 35314695.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-022-29209-4 and PMC identifier 8938561.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
HitRS is a two-component system that responds to cell envelope damage in the human pathogen Bacillus anthracis. Here we identify an RNA-binding protein, KrrA, that regulates HitRS function by modulating the stability of the hitRS mRNA. In addition to hitRS, KrrA binds to over 70 RNAs and, directly or indirectly, affects the expression of over 150 genes involved in multiple processes, including genetic competence, sporulation, RNA turnover, DNA repair, transport, and cellular metabolism. KrrA does not exhibit detectable nuclease activity in vitro, and thus the mechanism by which it modulates mRNA stability remains unclear.
Medical subject headings
- Bacillus anthracis