title: Current perspectives of the Escherichia coli RNA degradosome.
abstract: Many biological processes in the cell are linked to RNA metabolism and therefore have implications for a wide range of biotechnological applications. The processing and degradation of RNA plays an important role in RNA metabolism with often the same enzymes being involved in both processes. In this review, we highlight the dynamic nature of the structural components of the Escherichia coli RNA degradosome which is a large multiprotein complex that plays an important role in RNA degradation. The activities of the individual components of the degradosome are also discussed. The RNA degradosome forms part of the bacterial cytoskeleton and associated proteins, such as molecular chaperones, may aid in the compartmentalization of enzymatic activities and cytoskeletal organization. An enhanced understanding of the components of the RNA degradosome in other bacterial species will certainly aid in their evaluation as potential antimicrobial agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa. Adelle.burger@gmail.com
authors.forename: Adélle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Whiteley
authors.forename: Aileen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boshoff
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011117:Polyribonucleotide Nucleotidyltransferase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; C111244:degradosome; D011117:Polyribonucleotide Nucleotidyltransferase; D004722:Endoribonucleases; D020365:RNA Helicases