The Small Regulatory Antisense RNA PilR Affects Pilus Formation and Cell Motility by Negatively Regulating pilA11 in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

ABSTRACT: Pili are found on the surface of many bacteria and play important roles in cell motility, pathogenesis, biofilm formation, and sensing and reacting to environmental changes. Cell motility in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 relies on expression of the putative pilA9-pilA10-pilA11-slr2018 operon. In this study, we identified the antisense RNA PilR encoded in the noncoding strand of the prepilin-encoding gene pilA11. Analysis of overexpressor [PilR(+)] and suppressor [PilR(-)] mutant strains revealed that PilR is a direct negative regulator of PilA11 protein. Although overexpression of PilR did not affect cell growth, it greatly reduced levels of pilA11 mRNA and protein and decreased both the thickness and number of pili, resulting in limited cell motility and small, disti

SUBMITTER: Hu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5924778 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature