The bacterial type III secretion system-associated pilin HrpA has an unusually long mRNA half-life.
Secondary structures affect mRNA stability and may play a role in protein secretion. We have studied the mRNA of hrpA, which codes for the major structural unit of the type III secretion system-associated pilus of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, Erwinia carotovora and Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola. We show that hrpA mRNA has an unusually long half-life, approximately 33-47 min. We mapped regions in the transcript that affected hrpA mRNA accumulation. Apparently, sequences at both 5' and 3' ends affect accumulation. Altering the hypothetical, stable GC rich loop structure in the 3' end of the transcript decreased transcript levels.
Division of General Microbiology, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Viikki Biocenter, P.O. Box 56, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
Elina
E
Hienonen
Anssi
A
Rantakari
Martin
M
Romantschuk
Suvi
S
Taira
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D004885:Erwinia / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006207:Half-Life; D007700:Kinetics; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000235:genetics; D044224:Pseudomonas syringae / Q000235:genetics; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; C092662:hrpA protein, E coli; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D020365:RNA Helicases