Differential control of the rate of 5'-end-dependent mRNA degradation in Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT: Many Escherichia coli mRNAs are degraded by a 5'-end-dependent mechanism in which RppH-catalyzed conversion of the 5'-terminal triphosphate to a monophosphate triggers rapid endonucleolytic cleavage by RNase E. However, little is understood about what governs the decay rates of these transcripts. We investigated the decay of three such messages--rpsT P1, yfcZ, and ydfG--to characterize the rate-determining step in their degradation. The steady-state ratio of monophosphorylated to triphosphorylated rpsT P1 and yfcZ mRNA indicates that their decay rate is limited by cleavage of the monophosphorylated intermediate, making RNase E critical for their rapid turnover. Conversely, the decay rate of ydfG is limited by generation of the monophosphorylated intermediate; therefore, either RNase E or i

SUBMITTER: Luciano DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3486407 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature