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Interference of a speB 5' untranslated region partial deletion with mRNA degradation in Streptococcus pyogenes

Z Chen1, L Mashburn-Warren2, J Merritt3

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.

Molecular Oral Microbiology
|April 4, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Streptococcus pyogenes speB mRNA accumulates in stationary phase due to a truncated 5' untranslated region (UTR) that slows mRNA degradation. This finding reveals distinct mRNA decay pathways in different growth phases.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Bacterial Pathogenesis

Background:

  • The 5' untranslated region (UTR) of mRNA influences gene expression stability and translation.
  • Streptococcus pyogenes, a pathogen, possesses a large 5' UTR for its speB gene with unknown regulatory functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of the large 5' UTR of the speB gene in Streptococcus pyogenes.
  • To understand the mechanisms regulating mRNA stability and degradation in S. pyogenes during different growth phases.

Main Methods:

  • Genetic manipulation of the speB 5' UTR in S. pyogenes.
  • Analysis of mRNA accumulation and degradation rates.
  • Investigation of interactions between the speB 5' UTR and RNase Y.

Main Results:

  • Partial deletion of the speB 5' UTR led to mRNA accumulation in stationary phase due to reduced degradation.
  • This phenotype was observed across multiple M serotypes and was triggered by truncated, not disrupted, speB 5' UTR.
  • The truncated speB 5' UTR showed weaker interaction with RNase Y than the wild-type, suggesting involvement of other degradation factors.

Conclusions:

  • The speB 5' UTR plays a critical role in regulating mRNA stability in Streptococcus pyogenes.
  • S. pyogenes employs distinct mRNA degradation mechanisms during exponential and stationary growth phases.
  • Further research is needed to identify the RNA-degrading components responsible for the observed effects.
Keywords:
Streptococcus pyogenesRNase YSpeBmRNA decaypost-transcriptional regulation

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