Abstract
Small non-coding RNAs with important regulatory roles are not confined to eukaryotes. Recent studies have led to the identification of numerous small regulatory RNAs in Escherichia coli and in other bacteria. As in eukaryotic cells, a major class of these small RNAs acts by base-pairing with target mRNAs, resulting in changes in the translation and stability of the mRNA. Roles for these non-coding pairing RNAs in bacteria have been demonstrated in several cases. Because these non-coding RNAs act post-transcriptionally, they impose a regulatory step that is independent of and epistatic to any transcriptional signals for their target mRNAs.
Publication types
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
- Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
- Review
MeSH terms
- Bacterial Proteins / genetics
- Base Sequence
- Escherichia coli / metabolism
- Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
- Genetic Techniques
- MicroRNAs / genetics*
- Models, Genetic
- Molecular Sequence Data
- RNA, Bacterial*
- RNA, Small Interfering / genetics*
- RNA, Untranslated*
- Regulatory Sequences, Ribonucleic Acid / genetics*
- Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
- Transcription, Genetic
Substances
- Bacterial Proteins
- Escherichia coli Proteins
- MicroRNAs
- RNA, Bacterial
- RNA, Small Interfering
- RNA, Untranslated
- Regulatory Sequences, Ribonucleic Acid