The Anaerobically Induced sRNA PaiI Affects Denitrification in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14

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Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
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Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

Published on: October 7, 2020

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Muralidhar Tata1, Fabian Amman2, Vinay Pawar3,4

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|December 9, 2017
PubMed

Insights

The small RNA PaiI is crucial for Pseudomonas aeruginosa anaerobic growth and denitrification, impacting nitrite to nitric oxide conversion. Its absence impairs bacterial fitness in cystic fibrosis lung models and murine tumors.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen.
  • It thrives in cystic fibrosis patients' lungs via anaerobic respiration.
  • Nitrate serves as a key terminal electron acceptor for anaerobic growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Identify and characterize the small RNA PaiI in P. aeruginosa.
  • Investigate PaiI's role in anaerobic respiration and denitrification.
  • Determine PaiI's impact on bacterial growth and pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Identification and characterization of PaiI in P. aeruginosa PA14.
  • Analysis of PaiI induction by nitrate and dependence on the NarXL two-component system.
  • Assessment of PaiI's effect on denitrification, nitrite to nitric oxide conversion, and anaerobic growth on glucose.

Main Results:

  • PaiI is an anaerobically induced small RNA dependent on the NarXL system.
  • PaiI is essential for efficient denitrification, specifically nitrite to nitric oxide conversion.
  • PaiI deletion impairs anaerobic growth on glucose due to decreased carbon source uptake.
  • A paiI deletion mutant exhibited impaired growth in murine tumors.

Conclusions:

  • PaiI plays a vital role in P. aeruginosa anaerobic respiration and denitrification.
  • PaiI is important for bacterial adaptation and survival in host environments like cystic fibrosis lungs and tumors.
Keywords:
Pseudomonas aeruginosaanaerobiosisdenitrificationnitritesmall RNA

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