Modulation of the stability of the Salmonella fourU-type RNA thermometer.

ABSTRACT: RNA thermometers are translational control elements that regulate the expression of bacterial heat shock and virulence genes. They fold into complex secondary structures that block translation at low temperatures. A temperature increase releases the ribosome binding site and thus permits translation initiation. In fourU-type RNA thermometers, the AGGA sequence of the SD region is paired with four consecutive uridines. We investigated the melting points of the wild-type and mutant sequences. It was decreased by 5°C when a stabilizing GC basepair was exchanged by an AU pair or increased by 11°C when an internal AG mismatch was converted to a GC pair, respectively. Stabilized or destabilized RNA structures are directly correlated with decreased or increased in vivo gene expression, respective

SUBMITTER: Rinnenthal J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3185406 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature