A trans-acting riboswitch controls expression of the virulence regulator PrfA in Listeria monocytogenes.

Full Abstract

Riboswitches are RNA elements acting in cis, controlling expression of their downstream genes through a metabolite-induced alteration of their secondary structure. Here, we demonstrate that two S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) riboswitches, SreA and SreB, can also function in trans and act as noncoding RNAs in Listeria monocytogenes. SreA and SreB control expression of the virulence regulator PrfA by binding to the 5'-untranslated region of its mRNA. Absence of the SAM riboswitches SreA and SreB increases the level of PrfA and virulence gene expression in L. monocytogenes. Thus, the impact of the SAM riboswitches on PrfA expression highlights a link between bacterial virulence and nutrient availability. Together, our results uncover an unexpected role for riboswitches and a distinct class of regulatory noncoding RNAs in bacteria.

Author information

Author/s: Loh, Edmund (E); Dussurget, Olivier (O); Gripenland, Jonas (J); Vaitkevicius, Karolis (K); Tiensuu, Teresa (T); Mandin, Pierre (P); Repoila, Francis (F); Buchrieser, Carmen (C); Cossart, Pascale (P); Johansson, Jörgen (J);

Affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.

Grants: (Agency:Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Cell (Cell), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Nov; vol 139 (issue 4) : pp 770-9

Dates: Created 2009/11/16;

PMID: 19914169, status: In-Process (last retrieved date: 11/23/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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