RNA G-quadruplexes inhibit translation of the PE/PPE transcripts in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

ABSTRACT: The role of RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) in bacteria remains poorly understood. High G-quadruplex densities have been linked to organismal stress. Here we investigate rG4s in mycobacteria, which survive highly stressful conditions within the host. We show that rG4-enrichment is a unique feature exclusive to slow-growing pathogenic mycobacteria, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) transcripts contain an abundance of folded rG4s. Notably, the PE/PPE family of genes, unique to slow-growing pathogenic mycobacteria, contain over 50% of rG4s within Mtb transcripts. We found that RNA oligonucleotides of putative rG4s in PE/PPE genes form G-quadruplex structures in vitro, which are stabilized by the G-quadruplex ligand BRACO19. Furthermore, BRACO19 inhibits the transcription of PE/PPE genes and sele

SUBMITTER: Kumar A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10801317 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature