Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
08:34
MS2-Affinity Purification Coupled with RNA Sequencing in Gram-Positive Bacteria
Published on: February 23, 2021
Genome-wide antisense transcription drives mRNA processing in bacteria
Iñigo Lasa1, Alejandro Toledo-Arana, Alexander Dobin
1Laboratory of Microbial Biofilms, Instituto de Agrobiotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Pública de Navarra-Gobierno de Navarra, 31006 Pamplona, Spain. ilasa@unavarra.es
Summary
Researchers discovered a new mechanism in Staphylococcus aureus where RNase III enzyme processes overlapping RNA transcripts. This generates short RNAs and regulates gene expression genome-wide, offering insights into bacterial RNA processing.
Area of Science:
- Bacteriology
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Bacterial transcriptomes exhibit complexity with noncoding RNAs and alternative structures.
- Deep RNA sequencing reveals novel RNA species and regulatory mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the generation of short RNAs in Staphylococcus aureus using deep RNA sequencing.
- To elucidate the role of RNase III in processing overlapping sense/antisense transcripts.
Main Methods:
- Deep RNA sequencing of long and short RNA fractions (<50 nucleotides) from Staphylococcus aureus.
- Analysis of RNA processing in the presence and absence of RNase III activity.
Main Results:
- A collection of short RNAs is generated genome-wide via RNase III digestion of overlapping transcripts.
- Antisense processing affects at least 75% of sense RNAs from annotated genes.
- RNase III removal leads to reduced short RNAs and accumulation of antisense transcripts.
Conclusions:
- RNase III-mediated digestion of overlapping transcripts is a pervasive mechanism for generating short RNAs.
- This process represents a genome-wide posttranscriptional strategy to regulate mRNA levels in bacteria.
- The discovered mechanism is conserved in evolutionarily diverse Gram-positive bacteria.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria
The DNA replication, transcription, and translation processes are intricately coupled in bacteria, allowing efficient gene expression and rapid protein synthesis. While this physical and functional coordination is advantageous, it introduces challenges that bacteria overcome through specific regulatory mechanisms.Coupling of Replication, Transcription, and TranslationThe coupling of replication, transcription, and translation is a hallmark of bacterial gene expression. As the replisome unwinds...
01:23Types 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...
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...
01:20Types 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...
RNA Performs Diverse...
01:29Translational 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,...
00:43Bacterial 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...
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...
01:53Bacterial Transcription
RNA polymerase (RNAP) carries out DNA-dependent RNA synthesis in both bacteria and eukaryotes. Bacteria do not have a membrane-bound nucleus. So, transcription and translation occur simultaneously, on the same DNA template.
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are: