Aroeti Lior, Elbaz Netanel, Faigenbaum-Romm Raya, Yakovian Oren, Altuvia Yael, Argaman Liron, Katsowich Naama, Bejerano-Sagie Michal, Ravins Miriam, Margalit Hanah, Ben-Yehuda Sigal, Rosenshine Ilan
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
Nat Commun. 2025 Apr 23;16(1):3834. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-58829-9.
The RNA-binding protein CsrA regulates the expression of hundreds of genes in several bacterial species, thus controlling virulence and other processes. However, the outcome of the CsrA-mRNA interactions is modulated by competing small RNAs and other factors through mechanisms that are only partially understood. Here, we show that CsrA accumulates in a dynamic membraneless compartment in cells of E. coli and other pathogenic species. In addition to CsrA, the compartment contains components of the RNA-degrading complex (degradosome), regulatory small RNAs, and selected mRNAs. Formation of the compartment is associated with a switch between promoting and repressing virulence gene expression by CsrA. We suggest that similar CsrA switches may be widespread in diverse bacteria.
RNA结合蛋白CsrA在几种细菌物种中调节数百个基因的表达，从而控制毒力和其他过程。然而，CsrA与mRNA相互作用的结果受到竞争性小RNA和其他因素的调节，其机制仅得到部分理解。在这里，我们表明CsrA在大肠杆菌和其他致病物种的细胞中动态无膜区室中积累。除了CsrA，该区室还包含RNA降解复合物（降解体）的成分、调节性小RNA和选定的mRNA。区室的形成与CsrA促进和抑制毒力基因表达之间的转换有关。我们认为类似的CsrA转换可能在多种细菌中广泛存在。
