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SsrA (tmRNA) acts as an antisense RNA to regulate Staphylococcus aureus pigment synthesis by base pairing with crtMN mRNA
Author(s) -
Liu Yu,
Wu Na,
Dong Jie,
Gao Yaping,
Zhang Xin,
Shao Ningsheng,
Yang Guang
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.09.024
Subject(s) - rna , antisense rna , biology , transfer rna , base pair , mutant , messenger rna , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene
SsrA RNA (small stable RNA A), also known as tmRNA and 10Sa RNA, functions both as tRNA and mRNA through its unique structure. The carotenoid pigment is the eponymous feature of human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus . Here, we found that the pigment of the mutant strain with ssrA deletion was increased. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that ssrA could act as an antisense RNA aside from its well‐known biological function, and crtMN , encoding two essential enzymes for the pigment synthesis, was identified as target of ssrA. Further investigation showed ssrA could specifically base pair with the RBS (ribosomal binding site) region of the crtMN mRNA. Our results revealed a new mechanism by which ssrA regulated the biosynthesis of pigment in S. aureus .