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Related Concept Videos

Translational Regulation01:29

Translational Regulation

Translational regulation in prokaryotes ensures efficient protein synthesis by controlling ribosome access to mRNA. This regulation is mediated by secondary RNA structures, including translational riboswitches, RNA thermometers, and small RNAs (sRNAs), which respond to intracellular and environmental signals to modulate gene expression.Translational RiboswitchesRiboswitches in the leader region of mRNAs can regulate translation by altering the accessibility of the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence,...
Types of RNA01:23

Types of RNA

Overview
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA...
Types of RNA01:20

Types of RNA

Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in regulating gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA Performs Diverse...
Bacterial RNA Polymerase00:43

Bacterial RNA Polymerase

Unlike eukaryotes, bacteria use a single RNA Polymerase (RNAP) to transcribe all genes. The different subunits of bacterial RNAPhave distinct functions. The multisubunit structure of the bacterial RNAP helps the enzyme to maintain catalytic function, facilitate assembly, interact with DNA and RNA, and self-regulate its activity.
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
Bacterial RNA Polymerase00:43

Bacterial RNA Polymerase

Unlike eukaryotes, bacteria use a single RNA Polymerase (RNAP) to transcribe all genes. The different subunits of bacterial RNAPhave distinct functions. The multisubunit structure of the bacterial RNAP helps the enzyme to maintain catalytic function, facilitate assembly, interact with DNA and RNA, and self-regulate its activity.
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches01:23

Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches

Riboswitches are RNA elements that regulate gene expression by altering their secondary structures in response to specific effector molecules. These elements, located in the leader regions of certain mRNAs, act as transcriptional regulators by toggling between alternative conformations to control downstream gene expression. Riboswitch-mediated regulation is a precise mechanism for modulating biosynthetic pathways, as exemplified by the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway in Bacillus...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2026

A Non-Coding Small RNA MicC Contributes to Virulence in Outer Membrane Proteins in Salmonella Enteritidis
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A Non-Coding Small RNA MicC Contributes to Virulence in Outer Membrane Proteins in Salmonella Enteritidis

Published on: January 27, 2021

Regulating bacterial transcription with small RNAs.

G Storz1, J A Opdyke, K M Wassarman

  • 1Cell Biology and Metabolism Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-5430, USA.

Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology
|March 27, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Bacterial small RNAs regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. Some small RNAs, like 6S RNA, also control transcription by interacting with RNA polymerase or mRNA, impacting bacterial regulatory networks.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Computational and molecular methods have identified numerous bacterial, plasmid, and phage-encoded small noncoding RNAs.
  • Most characterized small RNAs function post-transcriptionally, regulating mRNA stability and translation via base-pairing with target mRNAs.
  • A subset of small RNAs has been discovered to directly regulate transcription.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of small RNA roles in bacterial transcription regulation.
  • To highlight key examples and mechanisms of transcriptional regulation by small RNAs.
  • To identify open questions and future research directions in this field.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on bacterial small RNAs.
  • Analysis of proposed mechanisms for small RNA-mediated transcriptional control.
  • Discussion of specific examples like 6S RNA and transcription termination regulators.

Main Results:

  • Small RNAs modulate transcription through mechanisms such as competing for RNA polymerase binding (e.g., 6S RNA).
  • Small RNAs can influence transcription termination by base-pairing with mRNA sequences.
  • The diverse roles of small RNAs in gene regulation are increasingly recognized.

Conclusions:

  • Small RNAs play multifaceted roles in bacterial gene expression, extending beyond post-transcriptional control.
  • Understanding small RNA-mediated transcriptional regulation is crucial for deciphering bacterial regulatory networks.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms and scope of small RNA involvement in transcription.