Small non-coding RNAs in Streptomyces coelicolor

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Streptomyces coelicolor is a Gram-positive, GC-rich soil bacterium that serves as a model organism for the investigation of secondary metabolite production (antibiotics) and cell differentiation. Our research topic is the analysis of small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) in this organism. During the last funding period we characterized the sRNA sc1. It controls the expression of the agarase DagA by a direct interaction with the ribosomal binding site of the target mRNA. Moreover, sc1 is involved in nitrogen metabolism and influences the production of antibiotics. We aim to characterize further targets of sc1 and unravel its role in the control of secondary metabolism. We have identified further ~ 800 potential sRNAs using a deep sequencing approach and selected a set of eight sRNAs for further analysis. They are differentially expressed in minimal media and show nitrogen or temperature dependence, respectively. We will perform a detailed structural and functional characterization of these candidates. Further on, we attempt to identify proteins involved in the sRNA-mRNA interactions since S. coelicolor lacks the major chaperon Hfq which facilitates this interaction in other organisms.