Impact of Hfq on the Bacillus subtilis Transcriptome
2014 | journal article. A publication with affiliation to the University of Göttingen.
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- Authors
- Haemmerle, Hermann; Amman, Fabian; Vecerek, Branislav; Stuelke, Joerg; Hofacker, Ivo; Blaesi, Udo
- Abstract
- The RNA chaperone Hfq acts as a central player in post-transcriptional gene regulation in several Gram-negative Bacteria, whereas comparatively little is known about its role in Gram-positive Bacteria. Here, we studied the function of Hfq in Bacillus subtilis, and show that it confers a survival advantage. A comparative transcriptome analysis revealed mRNAs with a differential abundance that are governed by the ResD-ResE system required for aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Expression of resD was found to be up-regulated in the hfq(-) strain. Furthermore, several genes of the GerE and ComK regulons were de-regulated in the hfq(-) background. Surprisingly, only six out of >100 known and predicted small RNAs (sRNAs) showed altered abundance in the absence of Hfq. Moreover, Hfq positively affected the transcript abundance of genes encoding type I toxin-antitoxin systems. Taken the moderate effect on sRNA levels and mRNAs together, it seems rather unlikely that Hfq plays a central role in RNA transactions in Bacillus subtilis.
- Issue Date
- 2014
- Status
- published
- Publisher
- Public Library Science
- Journal
- PLoS ONE
- ISSN
- 1932-6203