Changes in transcriptional pausing modify the folding dynamics of the pH-responsive RNA element
| Autor: | Maya Elgrably-Weiss, Gal Nechooshtan, Shoshy Altuvia |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2013 |
| Předmět: |
Untranslated region
RNA Folding Transcription Genetic Molecular Sequence Data Biology Regulatory Sequences Ribonucleic Acid Transcription (biology) Genetics Escherichia coli Gene Regulation of gene expression Base Sequence Escherichia coli Proteins RNA Membrane Transport Proteins Translation (biology) Gene Expression Regulation Bacterial Hydrogen-Ion Concentration Cell biology Folding (chemistry) RNA Bacterial Regulatory sequence Mutation Nucleic Acid Conformation 5' Untranslated Regions |
| Zdroj: | Nucleic Acids Research |
| ISSN: | 1362-4962 0305-1048 |
| Popis: | Previously, we described a novel pH-responsive RNA element in Escherichia coli that resides in the 5' untranslated region of the alx gene and controls its translation in a pH-dependent manner. Under normal growth conditions, this RNA region forms a translationally inactive structure, but when transcribed under alkaline conditions, it forms an active structure producing the Alx protein. We identified two distinct transcriptional pause sites and proposed that pausing at these sites interfered with the formation of the inactive structure while facilitating folding of the active one. Alkali increases the longevity of pausing at these sites, thereby promoting folding of the translationally active form of alx RNA. We show here that mutations that modify the extent and/or position of pausing, although silent with regard to structure stability per se, greatly influence the dynamics of folding and thereby translation. Our data illustrate the mechanistic design of alx regulation, relying on precise temporal and spatial characteristics. We propose that this unique design provides an opportunity for environmental signals such as pH to introduce structural changes in the RNA and thereby modulate expression. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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