Small RNA Mcr11 requires the transcription factor AbmR for stable expression and regulates genes involved in the central metabolism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

ABSTRACT: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the etiologic agent of tuberculosis, must adapt to host-associated environments during infection by modulating gene expression. Small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are key regulators of bacterial gene expression, but their roles in Mtb are not well understood. Here, we address the expression and function of the Mtb sRNA Mcr11, which is associated with slow bacterial growth and chronic infections in mice. We found that stable expression of Mcr11 requires multiple factors specific to TB-complex bacteria, including the AbmR transcription factor. Bioinformatic analyses used to predict regulatory targets of Mcr11 identified 7-11 nucleotide regions with potential for direct base-pairing with Mcr11 immediately upstream of Rv3282, fadA3, and lipB. mcr11-dependent regula

SUBMITTER: Girardin RC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7064933 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature