Structure and function of RNA thermometers

RNA温度计的结构和功能

• 批准号: 40014489
• 负责人: Professor Dr. Franz Narberhaus
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Lehrstuhl für Biologie der Mikroorganismen
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Priority Programmes
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2006-12-31 至 2013-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/40014489?language=en
• 关键词: Structure; function; RNA; thermometers

RNA thermometers control translation initiation of many bacterial heat shock and virulence genes in response to elevated temperatures. They are located in the 5’-untranslated region (5’-UTR), which folds into a complex structure that blocks access to the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence at low temperatures. A temperature upshift to 37 °C (virulence genes) or higher (heat shock genes) induces melting of that structure making the SD sequence available to the 30S ribosome. We are studying individual members of three different classes of RNA thermometers, socalled ROSE (Repression Of heat Shock gene Expression), fourU (four uridines) and Cyotherm (cyanobacterial thermometer) elements. The major aim of future studies is to demonstrate the physiological importance of these RNA thermometers in the bacterial stress and virulence response. Other goals are to define a minimal ROSE element and to closely examine fourU thermometers from pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, we plan to investigate potential RNA thermometers from thermophilic bacteria. RNA thermometers that act by mechanisms other than melting have been predicted upstream of cold shock genes and a virulence gene from Staphylococcus aureus. The structure and function of these candidates will be studied.

RNA 温度计控制许多细菌热休克和毒力基因响应高温的翻译起始。它们位于 5'-非翻译区 (5'-UTR)，该区域折叠成复杂的结构，在低温下阻止对 Shine-Dalgarno (SD) 序列的访问。温度升高至 37°C（毒力基因）或更高（热休克基因）会诱导该结构熔化，从而使 SD 序列可用于 30S 核糖体。我们正在研究三种不同类别的 RNA 温度计的个体成员，即所谓的 ROSE（热休克基因表达抑制）、fourU（四个尿苷）和 Cyotherm（蓝细菌温度计）元件。未来研究的主要目的是证明这些 RNA 温度计在细菌应激和毒力反应中的生理重要性。其他目标是定义最小的 ROSE 元素，并仔细检查 4U 温度计中的病原微生物。此外，我们计划研究来自嗜热细菌的潜在 RNA 温度计。据预测，RNA 温度计的作用机制不同于融化，它位于冷休克基因和金黄色葡萄球菌毒力基因的上游。将研究这些候选物的结构和功能。