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RNase Y, a novel endoribonuclease, initiates riboswitch turnover in Bacillus subtilis
Author(s) -
Shahbabian Karen,
Jamalli Ailar,
Zig Léna,
Putzer Harald
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/emboj.2009.283
Subject(s) - endoribonuclease , rnase p , biology , riboswitch , rnase mrp , rna , ribonuclease iii , bacillus subtilis , rnase h , degradosome , messenger rna , transcription (linguistics) , rnase ph , ribonuclease , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , non coding rna , genetics , gene , rna interference , bacteria , linguistics , philosophy
In contrast to Escherichia coli , initiation of mRNA decay in Gram‐positive organisms is poorly understood. We studied the fate of the highly structured RNAs generated by premature transcription termination of S ‐adenosylmethionine (SAM)‐dependent riboswitches in Bacillus subtilis . An essential protein of earlier unknown function, YmdA, was identified as a novel endoribonuclease (now called RNase Y) that was capable of preferential cleaving in vitro of the 5′ monophosphorylated yitJ riboswitch upstream of the SAM‐binding aptamer domain. Antiterminated full‐length yitJ mRNA was not a substrate for RNase Y in vivo and in vitro , transcripts capable of forming the antiterminator were only cleaved in the presence of SAM. Turnover of 10 other SAM‐dependent riboswitches was also initiated by RNase Y. Depletion of this ribonuclease increased the half‐life of bulk mRNA more than two‐fold. This indicates that RNase Y might be not only important for riboswitch RNA turnover but also as a key player in the initiation of mRNA decay in B. subtilis . About 40% of the sequenced eubacterial species have an RNase Y orthologue.