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在细菌中是如何降解的。将特别关注RppH，这是一种最近发现的RNA焦磷酸水解酶，它通过一种以前未被认识的机制触发大肠杆菌中初级转录物的降解：5'端三磷酸到单磷酸的速率决定转换。首先，将确定rna的特征，这些特征决定了它们通过这种机制对衰变的易感性。此外，RppH对其活性的重要特征以及可能影响这种5'端依赖性RNA降解的细胞因子将被检查。最后，将探讨该途径对其他细菌物种mRNA衰变的贡献。这些研究的结果将为目前知之甚少的基因调控的一个基本方面提供重要的见解。这一知识对于阐明在细菌发病机制中发挥关键作用的生物调控机制具有重要价值。

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.