The RNA degradation enzyme RNase E is essential for early flagellar assembly in <i>Escherichia coli</i>.

ABSTRACT: Escherichia coli endoribonuclease E (RNase E), encoded by the essential rne gene and conserved across γ-Proteobacteria, plays a central role in RNA processing and decay. We show here that rne-null strain, rne-null strain complemented with catalytic-null RNase E mutant, and C-terminal-truncated strain (Rned500) all lack flagellar biogenesis and motility under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, which are restored by wild-type RNase E complementation. The Rned500 displays dysregulated expression of the three-tiered flagellar transcriptional cascade, increased stability of flagellar mRNAs, and reduced flagellar protein levels through sRNA-dependent translational inhibition. However, ectopic expression of flagellar master regulators or flagellar proteins fails to

SUBMITTER: Wang WS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12399333 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature