title: Light-Triggered RNA Annealing by an RNA Chaperone.
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.
authors.affiliation: T.C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21218 (USA).
authors.forename: Subrata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Panja
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21218 (USA).
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21218 (USA). mgreenberg@jhu.edu.
authors.forename: Marc M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.affiliation: T.C. Jenkins Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21218 (USA). swoodson@jhu.edu.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Woodson
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D020029:Base Pairing; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006151:Guanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000235:genetics; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008027:Light; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D009841:Oligonucleotides; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D006151:Guanosine
keywords: Hfq; RNA chaperones; non-coding RNA; p-hydroxyphenacyl; photocaged nucleotides