Prokaryotic RNA Metabolism

这些研究将集中在使用分子生物学，生物化学和遗传学方法来阐明信使RNA是如何在细菌中降解的。特别注意将致力于RppH，最近发现的RNA焦磷酸水解酶，触发降解的初级转录在E。大肠杆菌通过一种以前未被认识的机制：5 '末端三磷酸向一磷酸的速率决定性转化。首先，将确定RNA的特征，这些特征决定了它们对这种机制的衰变的敏感性。此外，还将检查对RppH活性重要的RppH特征和可能影响这种5 '末端依赖性RNA降解的细胞因子。最后，将探索该途径对其他细菌物种中mRNA衰变的贡献。这些研究的结果将提供重要的见解基因调控的一个基本方面，目前是知之甚少。这方面的知识应该是有价值的澄清生物调节机制，可以发挥关键作用的细菌发病机制。

These investigations will focus on using molecular biological, biochemical, and genetic methods to elucidate how messenger RNA is degraded in bacteria. Particular attention will be devoted to RppH, a recently discovered RNA pyrophosphohydrolase that triggers the degradation of primary transcripts in E. coli by a previously unrecognized mechanism: the rate-determining conversion of the 5'-terminal triphosphate to a monophosphate. First, the features of RNAs that determine their susceptibility to decay by this mechanism will be identified. In addition, the characteristics of RppH that are important for its activity and the cellular factors that may influence such 5'-end- dependent RNA degradation will be examined. Finally, the contribution of this pathway to mRNA decay in other bacterial species will be explored. The results of these studies will provide important insights into a fundamental aspect of gene regulation that presently is poorly understood. This knowledge should be of value in clarifying a biological regulatory mechanism that can play a key role in bacterial pathogenesis.