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RNA processing in Bacillus subtilis : identification of targets of the essential RNase Y
Author(s) -
LehnikHabrink Martin,
Schaffer Marc,
Mäder Ulrike,
Diethmaier Christine,
Herzberg Christina,
Stülke Jörg
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07777.x
Subject(s) - endoribonuclease , rnase p , rnase mrp , rnase ph , biology , bacillus subtilis , rna , degradosome , rnase h , ribonuclease iii , non coding rna , exosome complex , transcriptome , messenger rna , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , gene expression , bacteria , genetics , gene , rna interference
Summary RNA processing and degradation is initiated by endonucleolytic cleavage of the target RNAs. In many bacteria, this activity is performed by RNase E which is not present in Bacillus subtilis and other Gram‐positive bacteria. Recently, the essential endoribonuclease RNase Y has been discovered in B. subtilis . This RNase is involved in the degradation of bulk mRNA suggesting a major role in RNA metabolism. However, only a few targets of RNase Y have been identified so far. In order to assess the global impact of RNase Y, we compared the transcriptomes in response to the expression level of RNase Y. Our results demonstrate that processing by RNase Y results in accumulation of about 550 mRNAs. Some of these targets were substantially stabilized by RNase Y depletion, resulting in half‐lives in the range of an hour. Moreover, about 350 mRNAs were less abundant when RNase Y was depleted among them the mRNAs of the operons required for biofilm formation. Interestingly, overexpression of RNase Y was sufficient to induce biofilm formation. The results presented in this work emphasize the importance of RNase Y as the global acting endoribonuclease for B. subtilis .