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Sponges and Predators in the Small RNA World
Nara Figueroa-Bossi1, Lionello Bossi1
1Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, University of Paris-Sud, University of Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Microbiology Spectrum
|July 14, 2018
Summary
Bacterial small RNAs (sRNAs) and eukaryotic microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate genes by base-pairing. Target mimicry and competition are key regulatory mechanisms in bacterial sRNA networks.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Gene Regulation
Background:
- Noncoding small RNAs (sRNAs) regulate gene expression through base-pairing with messenger RNAs (mRNAs).
- Evolutionarily distant regulators like bacterial sRNAs and eukaryotic microRNAs (miRNAs) share target promiscuity, binding to short, repeated sequences in transcriptomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evidence for target mimicry and competition as crucial components of bacterial sRNA regulatory networks.
- To explore the implications of target promiscuity in sRNA function and regulatory architecture.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on bacterial sRNA networks and eukaryotic miRNA regulation.
- Analysis of mechanisms involving base-pairing, target mimicry, and target competition.
Main Results:
- Target promiscuity allows sRNAs to coordinate multiple targets and form regulatory networks.
- Target mimics (decoys) can divert sRNAs from their intended targets, regulating the regulator.
- Competition among bona fide targets for the same sRNA leads to cross-talk and impacts expression levels.
Conclusions:
- Target mimicry and competition are integral to the regulatory logic of bacterial sRNA networks.
- These mechanisms contribute to the complexity and fine-tuning of gene expression regulation by sRNAs.
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