Role of a Stem-Loop Structure in Helicobacter pylori cagA Transcript Stability

Helicobacter pylori CagA is a secreted effector protein that contributes to gastric carcinogenesis. Previous studies showed that there is variation amongH. pylori strains in the steady-state levels of CagA and that a strain-specific motif downstream of thecagA transcriptional start site (the +59 motif) is associated with both high levels of CagA and premalignant gastric histology.