Abstract
Non-coding antisense RNAs regulate bacterial genes in response to nutrition or environmental stress, and can be engineered for artificial gene control. The RNA chaperone Hfq accelerates antisense pairing between non-coding RNAs and their mRNA targets, by a mechanism still unknown. We used a photocaged guanosine derivative in an RNA oligonucleotide to temporally control Hfq catalyzed annealing. Using a fluorescent molecular beacon as a reporter, we observed RNA duplex formation within 15 s following irradiation (3 s) of photocaged RNA complexed with Hfq. The results showed that the Hfq chaperone directly stabilizes the initiation of RNA base pairs, and suggests a strategy for light-activated control of gene expression by non-coding RNAs.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 7281-7284 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Angewandte Chemie - International Edition |
Volume | 54 |
Issue number | 25 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1 2015 |
Keywords
- Hfq
- RNA chaperones
- non-coding RNA
- p-hydroxyphenacyl
- photocaged nucleotides
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Catalysis
- General Chemistry