The RNA chaperone Hfq plays crucial roles in bacterial gene expression and is a major facilitator of small regulatory RNA (sRNA) action. The toroidal architecture of the Hfq hexamer presents three well-characterized surfaces that allow it to bind sRNAs to stabilize them and engage target transcripts. Hfq-interacting sRNAs are categorized into two classes based on the surfaces they use to bind Hfq. By characterizing a systematic alanine mutant library of Hfq to identify amino acid residues that impact survival of Escherichia coli experiencing nitrogen (N) starvation, we corroborated the important role of the three RNA-binding surfaces for Hfq function. We uncovered two, previously uncharacterized, conserved residues, V22 and G34, in the hydrophobic core of Hfq, to have a profound impact on Hfq's RNA-binding activity in vivo. Transcriptome-scale analysis revealed that V22A and G34A Hfq mutants cause widespread destabilization of both sRNA classes, to the same extent as seen in bacteria devoid of Hfq. However, the alanine substitutions at these residues resulted in only modest alteration in stability and structure of Hfq. We propose that V22 and G34 have impact on Hfq function, especially critical under cellular conditions when there is an increased demand for Hfq, such as N starvation.
- MeSH
- bakteriální RNA * metabolismus genetika chemie MeSH
- dusík metabolismus MeSH
- Escherichia coli * genetika metabolismus MeSH
- hydrofobní a hydrofilní interakce * MeSH
- konzervovaná sekvence MeSH
- malá nekódující RNA * metabolismus genetika chemie MeSH
- mutace MeSH
- protein hostitelského faktoru 1 * metabolismus genetika chemie MeSH
- proteiny z Escherichia coli * metabolismus genetika chemie MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u bakterií MeSH
- stabilita RNA * genetika MeSH
- stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
- transkriptom genetika MeSH
- vazba proteinů MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Bacteria have evolved structured RNAs that can associate with RNA polymerase (RNAP). Two of them have been known so far-6S RNA and Ms1 RNA but it is unclear if any other types of RNAs binding to RNAP exist in bacteria. To identify all RNAs interacting with RNAP and the primary σ factors, we have established and performed native RIP-seq in Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacterium glutamicum, Streptomyces coelicolor, Mycobacterium smegmatis and the pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Besides known 6S RNAs in B. subtilis and Ms1 in M. smegmatis, we detected MTS2823, a homologue of Ms1, on RNAP in M. tuberculosis. In C. glutamicum, we discovered novel types of structured RNAs that associate with RNAP. Furthermore, we identified other species-specific RNAs including full-length mRNAs, revealing a previously unknown landscape of RNAs interacting with the bacterial transcription machinery.
- MeSH
- Bacillus subtilis genetika metabolismus MeSH
- bakteriální proteiny * metabolismus genetika MeSH
- bakteriální RNA * metabolismus genetika MeSH
- Corynebacterium glutamicum genetika metabolismus MeSH
- DNA řízené RNA-polymerasy * metabolismus genetika MeSH
- genetická transkripce MeSH
- konformace nukleové kyseliny MeSH
- Mycobacterium smegmatis genetika metabolismus enzymologie MeSH
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis genetika metabolismus MeSH
- nekódující RNA MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u bakterií MeSH
- sigma faktor * metabolismus genetika MeSH
- Streptomyces coelicolor genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
RNase J1 is the major 5'-to-3' bacterial exoribonuclease. We demonstrate that in its absence, RNA polymerases (RNAPs) are redistributed on DNA, with increased RNAP occupancy on some genes without a parallel increase in transcriptional output. This suggests that some of these RNAPs represent stalled, non-transcribing complexes. We show that RNase J1 is able to resolve these stalled RNAP complexes by a "torpedo" mechanism, whereby RNase J1 degrades the nascent RNA and causes the transcription complex to disassemble upon collision with RNAP. A heterologous enzyme, yeast Xrn1 (5'-to-3' exonuclease), is less efficient than RNase J1 in resolving stalled Bacillus subtilis RNAP, suggesting that the effect is RNase-specific. Our results thus reveal a novel general principle, whereby an RNase can participate in genome-wide surveillance of stalled RNAP complexes, preventing potentially deleterious transcription-replication collisions.
- MeSH
- Bacillus subtilis enzymologie genetika MeSH
- bakteriální proteiny metabolismus MeSH
- bakteriální RNA genetika metabolismus MeSH
- DNA řízené RNA-polymerasy metabolismus MeSH
- exoribonukleasy metabolismus MeSH
- genetická transkripce MeSH
- messenger RNA genetika metabolismus MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u bakterií MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Saliva, as a non-invasive and easily accessible biofluid, has been shown to contain RNA biomarkers for prediction and diagnosis of several diseases. However, systematic analysis done by our group identified two problematic issues not coherently described before: (1) most of the isolated RNA originates from the oral microbiome and (2) the amount of isolated human RNA is comparatively low. The degree of bacterial contamination showed ratios up to 1:900,000, so that only about one out of 900,000 RNA copies was of human origin, but the RNA quality (average RIN 6.7 + /- 0.8) allowed for qRT-PCR. Using 12 saliva samples from healthy donors, we modified the methodology to (1) select only human RNA during cDNA synthesis by aiming at the poly(A)+-tail and (2) introduced a pre-amplification of human RNA before qRT-PCR. Further, the manufacturer's criteria for successful pre-amplification (Ct values ≤ 35 for unamplified cDNA) had to be replaced by (3) proofing linear pre-amplification for each gene, thus, increasing the number of evaluable samples up to 70.6%. When considering theses three modifications unbiased gene expression analysis on human salivary RNA can be performed.
- MeSH
- bakteriální RNA genetika MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- exprese genu * MeSH
- komplementární DNA genetika MeSH
- kvantitativní polymerázová řetězová reakce metody MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- RNA ribozomální 18S genetika MeSH
- RNA analýza MeSH
- sliny chemie metabolismus MeSH
- stanovení celkové genové exprese metody MeSH
- transkriptom MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
It has been more than 50 years since the discovery of dinucleoside polyphosphates (NpnNs) and yet their roles and mechanisms of action remain unclear. Here, we show that both methylated and non-methylated NpnNs serve as RNA caps in Escherichia coli. NpnNs are excellent substrates for T7 and E. coli RNA polymerases (RNAPs) and efficiently initiate transcription. We demonstrate, that the E. coli enzymes RNA 5'-pyrophosphohydrolase (RppH) and bis(5'-nucleosyl)-tetraphosphatase (ApaH) are able to remove the NpnN-caps from RNA. ApaH is able to cleave all NpnN-caps, while RppH is unable to cleave the methylated forms suggesting that the methylation adds an additional layer to RNA stability regulation. Our work introduces a different perspective on the chemical structure of RNA in prokaryotes and on the role of RNA caps. We bring evidence that small molecules, such as NpnNs are incorporated into RNA and may thus influence the cellular metabolism and RNA turnover.
- MeSH
- bakteriální RNA genetika MeSH
- dinukleosidfosfáty genetika MeSH
- DNA řízené RNA-polymerasy genetika MeSH
- Escherichia coli genetika MeSH
- hydrolasy působící na anhydridy kyselin metabolismus MeSH
- konformace nukleové kyseliny MeSH
- metylace MeSH
- proteiny z Escherichia coli metabolismus MeSH
- RNA čepičky genetika MeSH
- stabilita RNA MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Optogenetic tools have revolutionized the study of receptor-mediated processes, but such tools are lacking for RNA-controlled systems. In particular, light-activated regulatory RNAs are needed for spatiotemporal control of gene expression. To fill this gap, we used in vitro selection to isolate a novel riboswitch that selectively binds the trans isoform of a stiff-stilbene (amino-tSS)-a rapidly and reversibly photoisomerizing small molecule. Structural probing revealed that the RNA binds amino-tSS about 100-times stronger than the cis photoisoform (amino-cSS). In vitro and in vivo functional analysis showed that the riboswitch, termed Werewolf-1 (Were-1), inhibits translation of a downstream open reading frame when bound to amino-tSS. Photoisomerization of the ligand with a sub-millisecond pulse of light induced the protein expression. In contrast, amino-cSS supported protein expression, which was inhibited upon photoisomerization to amino-tSS. Reversible photoregulation of gene expression using a genetically encoded RNA will likely facilitate high-resolution spatiotemporal analysis of complex RNA processes.
- MeSH
- bakteriální RNA genetika MeSH
- Escherichia coli genetika MeSH
- messenger RNA metabolismus MeSH
- proteosyntéza * MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u bakterií MeSH
- riboswitch * MeSH
- spektrální analýza metody MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
- Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
BACKGROUND: In recent years, various substrates have been tested to increase the sustainable production of biomethane. The effect of these substrates on methanogenesis has been investigated mainly in small volume fermenters and were, for the most part, focused on studying the diversity of mesophilic microorganisms. However, studies of thermophilic communities in large scale operating mesophilic biogas plants do not yet exist. METHODS: Microbiological, biochemical, biophysical methods, and statistical analysis were used to track thermophilic communities in mesophilic anaerobic digesters. RESULTS: The diversity of the main thermophile genera in eight biogas plants located in the Czech Republic using different input substrates was investigated. In total, 19 thermophilic genera were detected after 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The highest percentage (40.8%) of thermophiles was found in the Modřice biogas plant where the input substrate was primary sludge and biological sludge (50/50, w/w %). The smallest percentage (1.87%) of thermophiles was found in the Čejč biogas plant with the input substrate being maize silage and liquid pig manure (80/20, w/w %). CONCLUSIONS: The composition of the anaerobic consortia in anaerobic digesters is an important factor for the biogas plant operator. The present study can help characterizing the impact of input feeds on the composition of microbial communities in these plants.
Despite the development of several cultivation methods, the rate of discovery of microorganisms that are yet-to-be cultivated outpaces the rate of isolating and cultivating novel species in the laboratory. Furthermore, no current cultivation technique is capable of selectively isolating and cultivating specific bacterial taxa or phylogenetic groups independently of morphological or physiological properties. Here, we developed a new method to isolate living bacteria solely based on their 16S rRNA gene sequence. We showed that bacteria can survive a modified version of the standard fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) procedure, in which fixation is omitted and other factors, such as centrifugation and buffers, are optimized. We also demonstrated that labelled DNA probes can be introduced into living bacterial cells by means of chemical transformation and that specific hybridization occurs. This new method, which we call live-FISH, was then combined with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to sort specific taxonomic groups of bacteria from a mock and natural bacterial communities and subsequently culture them. Live-FISH represents the first attempt to systematically optimize conditions known to affect cell viability during FISH and then to sort bacterial cells surviving the procedure. No sophisticated probe design is required, making live-FISH a straightforward method to be potentially used in combination with other single-cell techniques and for the isolation and cultivation of new microorganisms.
- MeSH
- Bacillus genetika MeSH
- Bacteria genetika MeSH
- bakteriální RNA genetika MeSH
- DNA sondy MeSH
- fylogeneze MeSH
- hybridizace in situ fluorescenční * MeSH
- mikrobiologické techniky * MeSH
- průtoková cytometrie MeSH
- RNA ribozomální 16S genetika MeSH
- separace buněk * MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Nitrogen fixation and assimilation processes are vital to the functioning of any ecosystem. Nevertheless, studying these processes using 15N-based stable isotope probing was so far limited because of technical challenges related to the relative rarity of nitrogen in nucleic acids and proteins compared to carbon, and because of its absence in lipids. However, the recent adoption of high-throughput sequencing and statistical modelling methods to SIP studies increased the sensitivity of the method and enabled overcoming some of the challenges. This chapter describes in detail how to perform DNA- and RNA-SIP using 15N.
- MeSH
- bakteriální RNA chemie genetika izolace a purifikace metabolismus MeSH
- bakterie fixující dusík genetika metabolismus MeSH
- centrifugace - gradient hustoty MeSH
- DNA bakterií chemie genetika izolace a purifikace metabolismus MeSH
- fixace dusíku genetika fyziologie MeSH
- izotopové značení metody MeSH
- izotopy dusíku metabolismus MeSH
- vysoce účinné nukleotidové sekvenování MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The widespread Mn2+-sensing yybP-ykoY riboswitch controls the expression of bacterial Mn2+ homeostasis genes. Here, we first determine the crystal structure of the ligand-bound yybP-ykoY riboswitch aptamer from Xanthomonas oryzae at 2.96 Å resolution, revealing two conformations with docked four-way junction (4WJ) and incompletely coordinated metal ions. In >100 µs of MD simulations, we observe that loss of divalents from the core triggers local structural perturbations in the adjacent docking interface, laying the foundation for signal transduction to the regulatory switch helix. Using single-molecule FRET, we unveil a previously unobserved extended 4WJ conformation that samples transient docked states in the presence of Mg2+. Only upon adding sub-millimolar Mn2+, however, can the 4WJ dock stably, a feature lost upon mutation of an adenosine contacting Mn2+ in the core. These observations illuminate how subtly differing ligand preferences of competing metal ions become amplified by the coupling of local with global RNA dynamics.
- MeSH
- bakteriální RNA chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Escherichia coli genetika MeSH
- hořčík metabolismus MeSH
- konformace nukleové kyseliny MeSH
- krystalografie rentgenová MeSH
- Lactococcus lactis genetika metabolismus MeSH
- ligandy MeSH
- mangan metabolismus MeSH
- molekulární konformace MeSH
- molekulární modely MeSH
- mutace MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u bakterií MeSH
- riboswitch fyziologie MeSH
- signální transdukce * MeSH
- simulace molekulární dynamiky MeSH
- vazebná místa MeSH
- Xanthomonas metabolismus MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
- Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
