A small RNA activates CFA synthase by a reprogrammable mechanism of mRNA stabilization

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, l

ORGANISM(S): Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium str. SL1344

SUBMITTER: Kai Papenfort 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-48221 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress