Neisseria RNA thermometer

RNA thermometers (RNATs) regulate gene expression in response to temperature, allowing pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis to switch on silent genes after entering the host organism. However the temperature for expression of Neisseria virulence-associated traits is 42 °C while other bacterial pathogen RNATs require 37 °C. This is probably because N. meningitidis is an obligate commensal of the human nasopharynx and becomes pathogenic during inflammation due to viral infection. Three independent RNA thermosensors were identified in the 5′UTRs of genes needed for: capsule biosynthesis (cssA), the expression of factor H binding protein (fHbp) and sialylation of lipopolysaccharide, which is essential for bacterial resistance against immune killing (lst).[1] The very different nucleotide sequence and predicted inhibitory structures of the three RNATs indicate that they have evolved independently.

Lst thermometer
Predicted secondary structure and sequence conservation of Lst thermometer
Identifiers
RfamRF02810
Other data
Domain(s)Bacteria
GOGO:0009266 ,GO:0030371
SOSO:005836,SO:0000204
PDB structuresPDBe
FHbp thermometer
Predicted secondary structure and sequence conservation of FHbp thermometer
Identifiers
RfamRF02811
Other data
Domain(s)Bacteria
GOGO:0009266 ,GO:0030371
SOSO:005836,SO:0000204
PDB structuresPDBe

Further study of molecular mechanisms of CssA RNAT showed that it acts as a rheostat that responds to small temperature changes around 37 °C which occur within the upper airways during infection. The increase in temperature opens up the structure to allow increased access to the ribosome binding site. In addition even a small changes in nucleotide composition lead to disregulation of CssA production. These changes distort the structure in a manner that is amplified when the temperature is increased. Hence single nucleotide substitution leads to decrease in activation of the protein and a shift of activation to a higher temperature. This activity could be modulated by pharmacological intervention.[2] The mechanisms underlying thermoregulation of fHbp were also further characterised.[3]

See also

References
  1. Loh E, Kugelberg E, Tracy A, Zhang Q, Gollan B, Ewles H, Chalmers R, Pelicic V, Tang CM (October 2013). "Temperature triggers immune evasion by Neisseria meningitidis". Nature. 502 (7470): 237–240. Bibcode:2013Natur.502..237L. doi:10.1038/nature12616. PMC 3836223. PMID 24067614.
  2. Barnwal RP, Loh E, Godin KS, Yip J, Lavender H, Tang CM, Varani G (November 2016). "Structure and mechanism of a molecular rheostat, an RNA thermometer that modulates immune evasion by Neisseria meningitidis". Nucleic Acids Research. 44 (19): 9426–9437. doi:10.1093/nar/gkw584. PMC 5100586. PMID 27369378.
  3. Loh E, Lavender H, Tan F, Tracy A, Tang CM (August 2016). "Thermoregulation of Meningococcal fHbp, an Important Virulence Factor and Vaccine Antigen, Is Mediated by Anti-ribosomal Binding Site Sequences in the Open Reading Frame". PLOS Pathogens. 12 (8): e1005794. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1005794. PMC 4999090. PMID 27560142.
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