title: Impact of Hfq on the Bacillus subtilis transcriptome.
abstract: The RNA chaperone Hfq acts as a central player in post-transcriptional gene regulation in several Gram-negative Bacteria, whereas comparatively little is known about its role in Gram-positive Bacteria. Here, we studied the function of Hfq in Bacillus subtilis, and show that it confers a survival advantage. A comparative transcriptome analysis revealed mRNAs with a differential abundance that are governed by the ResD-ResE system required for aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Expression of resD was found to be up-regulated in the hfq- strain. Furthermore, several genes of the GerE and ComK regulons were de-regulated in the hfq- background. Surprisingly, only six out of >100 known and predicted small RNAs (sRNAs) showed altered abundance in the absence of Hfq. Moreover, Hfq positively affected the transcript abundance of genes encoding type I toxin-antitoxin systems. Taken the moderate effect on sRNA levels and mRNAs together, it seems rather unlikely that Hfq plays a central role in RNA transactions in Bacillus subtilis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, Max F. Perutz Laboratories, Centre of Molecular Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hämmerle
authors.affiliation: Institute for Theoretical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amman
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, Max F. Perutz Laboratories, Centre of Molecular Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Branislav
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Večerek
authors.affiliation: Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stülke
authors.affiliation: Institute for Theoretical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hofacker
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunobiology and Genetics, Max F. Perutz Laboratories, Centre of Molecular Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bläsi
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D035001:Host Factor 1 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear / Q000032:analysis; D018085:Regulon; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D035001:Host Factor 1 Protein; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear; C100386:ResD protein, Bacillus subtilis; D014157:Transcription Factors