Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 1, 2025

A Non-Coding Small RNA MicC Contributes to Virulence in Outer Membrane Proteins in Salmonella Enteritidis
06:30

A Non-Coding Small RNA MicC Contributes to Virulence in Outer Membrane Proteins in Salmonella Enteritidis

Published on: January 27, 2021

1.8K

Unraveling Membrane Perturbations Caused by the Bacterial Riboregulator Hfq

Florian Turbant1,2, Jehan Waeytens3,4, Camille Campidelli1

  • 1Laboratoire Léon Brillouin LLB, CEA, CNRS UMR12, Université Paris Saclay, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|August 12, 2022
PubMed

Insights

The bacterial Hfq protein

Area of Science:

  • Bacterial molecular biology
  • Protein structure and function
  • Membrane biophysics

Background:

  • Hfq (Host Factor 1) is a crucial regulator in bacterial RNA metabolism, impacting translation and RNA decay.
  • Hfq interacts with small regulatory RNAs in Gram-negative bacteria.
  • The Hfq C-terminal region forms amyloid-like structures that interact with bacterial membranes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism by which Hfq's C-terminal region interacts with membranes.
  • To determine the reciprocal effects of membrane interaction on Hfq structure and amyloid assembly.
  • To explore the implications of Hfq-membrane interactions on bacterial gene regulation.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro biophysical approaches were employed.
  • Analysis of Hfq C-terminal region's influence on membrane integrity.
  • Assessment of membrane's effect on Hfq amyloid assembly.

Main Results:

  • The Hfq C-terminal region was shown to influence bacterial membrane integrity.
  • Bacterial membranes were found to specifically affect the amyloid assembly of Hfq.
  • This interaction suggests a novel mechanism for Hfq's regulatory role.

Conclusions:

  • Hfq's interaction with membranes modulates both protein structure and membrane integrity.
  • This interplay may represent a previously unrecognized layer of bacterial gene regulation.
  • Further research is warranted to understand the full impact on small regulatory RNA-based control.
Keywords:
Hfqbacterial amyloidlipid–protein interactionmembrane insertionprotein self-assemblyregulatory RNAsmall non-coding RNA

More Related Videos

Site-Directed Mutagenesis for In Vitro and In Vivo Experiments Exemplified with RNA Interactions in Escherichia Coli07:04

Site-Directed Mutagenesis for In Vitro and In Vivo Experiments Exemplified with RNA Interactions in Escherichia Coli

Published on: February 5, 2019

20.0K
MS2-Affinity Purification Coupled with RNA Sequencing in Gram-Positive Bacteria08:34

MS2-Affinity Purification Coupled with RNA Sequencing in Gram-Positive Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2021

6.9K

Related Concept Videos

Translational Regulation01:29

Translational 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,...
81
Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches01:23

Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches

Riboswitches are RNA elements that regulate gene expression by altering their secondary structures in response to specific effector molecules. These elements, located in the leader regions of certain mRNAs, act as transcriptional regulators by toggling between alternative conformations to control downstream gene expression. Riboswitch-mediated regulation is a precise mechanism for modulating biosynthetic pathways, as exemplified by the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway in Bacillus...
102
Other Stress Responses in Bacteria01:30

Other Stress Responses in Bacteria

Bacteria have global regulatory systems that control several types of stress mechanisms. These include Pho regulon and the heat shock response, which are essential systems for environmental adaptation, such as nutrient limitation and proteotoxic stress. The Pho regulon and the heat shock response exemplify bacterial resilience, enabling rapid adaptation to fluctuating environmental conditions.Pho RegulonBacteria require phosphorus for essential cellular processes, including nucleic acid...
56
Global Regulatory Systems01:28

Global Regulatory Systems

Global regulatory systems in bacteria enable rapid and coordinated responses to environmental changes by integrating sensory inputs with gene expression, ensuring efficient adaptation to fluctuating conditions. Key global regulatory mechanisms include regulons, two-component systems, sigma factors, and secondary messengers.Regulons and Global RegulatorsA regulon is a collection of genes and operons controlled by a common global regulator. These regulators enable bacteria to prioritize resource...
69
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
86
Stringent Response in E. coli01:23

Stringent Response in E. coli

Bacterial growth is closely tied to nutrient availability, with cells proliferating exponentially under favorable conditions and entering a stationary phase when resources become scarce. This transition is mediated by a regulatory mechanism known as the stringent response, which allows bacteria to adapt to nutrient deprivation by modulating gene expression and metabolic activity.During nutrient scarcity, intracellular amino acid levels decline. It results in the accumulation of uncharged tRNAs...
48