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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
08:34
MS2-Affinity Purification Coupled with RNA Sequencing in Gram-Positive Bacteria
Published on: February 23, 2021
A dual function for a bacterial small RNA: SgrS performs base pairing-dependent regulation and encodes a functional
Caryn S Wadler1, Carin K Vanderpool
1Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 601 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Summary
Small RNA SgrS in E. coli has two functions during glucose-phosphate stress: regulating glucose transporter PtsG mRNA and a separate peptide SgrT. Both are vital for mitigating stress effects, showcasing a novel bifunctional regulator.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- SgrS is a small RNA in E. coli activated by glucose-phosphate stress.
- It regulates the PtsG mRNA, which encodes the primary glucose transporter.
- This regulation is crucial for managing intracellular glucose-6-phosphate accumulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dual functions of SgrS during glucose-phosphate stress.
- To elucidate the roles of the SgrS RNA sequence and its encoded peptide (SgrT).
- To understand how these distinct functions contribute to the stress response.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of SgrS and sgrT mutant alleles.
- Assessing ptsG mRNA stability and translation.
- Measuring glucose uptake and PtsG protein levels.
- Investigating the role of the RNA chaperone Hfq.
Main Results:
- SgrS has two distinct functions: base-pairing with ptsG mRNA and encoding the SgrT peptide.
- SgrS-mediated down-regulation of ptsG mRNA stability does not require SgrT.
- SgrT alone impairs glucose uptake despite normal PtsG levels.
- Both functions are sufficient for previously observed SgrS phenotypes.
Conclusions:
- SgrS is a bifunctional small RNA regulator.
- It exhibits mechanistically distinct yet physiologically redundant roles in stress response.
- This represents a novel paradigm for small RNA regulatory mechanisms.
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