Open AccessThe noncoding RNA CcnA modulates the master cell cycle regulators CtrA and GcrA in Caulobacter crescentus
Author(s) -
Wanassa Beroual,
Karine Prévost,
David Lalaouna,
Nadia Ben Zaina,
Odile Valette,
Yann Denis,
Meriem Djendli,
Gaël Brasseur,
Matteo Brilli,
Marta Garrido,
Jimenez-Zurdo Jose-Ignacio,
Éric Massé,
Emanuele G. Biondi
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
plos biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.127
H-Index - 271
eISSN - 1545-7885
pISSN - 1544-9173
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001528
Subject(s) - caulobacter crescentus , biology , cell cycle , microbiology and biotechnology , regulator , cell division , genetics , computational biology , cell , gene
Bacteria are powerful models for understanding how cells divide and accomplish global regulatory programs. In Caulobacter crescentus , a cascade of essential master regulators supervises the correct and sequential activation of DNA replication, cell division, and development of different cell types. Among them, the response regulator CtrA plays a crucial role coordinating all those functions. Here, for the first time, we describe the role of a novel factor named CcnA (cell cycle noncoding RNA A), a cell cycle–regulated noncoding RNA (ncRNA) located at the origin of replication, presumably activated by CtrA, and responsible for the accumulation of CtrA itself. In addition, CcnA may be also involved in the inhibition of translation of the S-phase regulator, GcrA, by interacting with its 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR). Performing in vitro experiments and mutagenesis, we propose a mechanism of action of CcnA based on liberation ( ctrA ) or sequestration ( gcrA ) of their ribosome-binding site (RBS). Finally, its role may be conserved in other alphaproteobacterial species, such as Sinorhizobium meliloti , representing indeed a potentially conserved process modulating cell cycle in Caulobacterales and Rhizobiales .