Protein-mRNA Interactions in the Control of Central Carbon Metabolism in Bacillus subtilis

到目前为止，对代谢的调控主要是从DNA结合转录因子的基因调控和酶活性调控两个方面进行的。然而，枯草芽孢杆菌的糖酵解也受到不同的蛋白质-RNA相互作用的调节，这些相互作用通过终止/反终止机制控制单个操纵子中编码的蛋白质的mRNA处理、稳定性和差异表达，或者控制转录延伸。我们打算研究枯草杆菌GAPA操纵子的mRNA处理，该操纵子编码糖酵解中磷酸三糖相互转化的酶。我们计划研究这两个新发现的RNase J在GAPA操纵子mRNA加工中的作用。糖酵解的第一步，葡萄糖转运和磷酸化，是由枯草杆菌中依赖于蛋白质的RNA开关控制的。我们想了解蛋白质GlcT与其RNA靶序列之间侦察的分子细节。这将通过结晶学和遗传学方法来解决。此外，我们希望研究GlcT的分子内信号转导过程，该过程将葡萄糖的可获得性和RNA结合活性与ptsGHI操纵子的表达与否联系起来。

Regulation of metabolism has so far mainly been studied at the levels of gene regulation by DNA-binding transcription factors and enzymatic activity control. However, glycolysis in Bacillus subtilis is also regulated by distinct protein-RNA interactions that control either mRNA processing, stability and differential expression of proteins encoded in a single operon or transcription elongation via a termination/antitermination mechanism. We intend to study mRNA processing of the B. subtilis gapA operon encoding the enzymes for triose phosphate interconversions in glycolysis. We plan to study the role of the two newly discovered RNases J in the processing of the gapA operon mRNA. The first step in glycolysis, glucose transport and phophorylation, is controlled by a protein-dependent RNA switch in B. subtilis. We want to understand the molecular details of the reconnaissance between the protein, GlcT, and its RNA target sequence. This will be addressed by crystallographic and genetic approaches. Moreover, we wish to study the intramolecular signal transduction process in GlcT that links glucose availability and RNA binding activity to the expression or not of the ptsGHI operon.