title: A small, microRNA-size, ribonucleic acid regulating gene expression and development of Shiga toxin-converting bacteriophage Φ24Β.
abstract: A microRNA-size (20-nt long) molecule has been identified in Escherichia coli after induction of Shiga toxin-converting bacteriophage Φ24B. This small RNA, named 24B_1, is encoded in the lom-vb_24B_43 region of the phage genome, and apparently it is produced by cleavage of a larger transcript. A phage devoid of 24B_1 revealed decreased efficiency of lysogenization, quicker prophage induction after provoking the SOS response, higher efficiency of progeny phage production during the lytic cycle and less efficient adsorption on the host cells. Expression of most of phage genes was drastically increased after infection of E. coli by the Φ24BΔ24B_1 phage. Since 24B_1 may impair expression of the d_ant gene, coding for an anti-repressor, these results may explain the mechanism of regulations of the physiological processes by this small RNA due to impaired activity of the cI repressor and changed expression of vast majority of phage genes. To our knowledge, this is the first example of functional microRNA-size molecule in bacterial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Bożena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nejman-Faleńczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Sylwia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Licznerska
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dydecka
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Felczykowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Gracja
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Topka
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology (affiliated with the University of Gdansk), Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Węgrzyn
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Węgrzyn
mesh_terms: D003090:Coliphages / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000502:physiology*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D013014:SOS Response, Genetics / Q000235:genetics; D022621:Shiga Toxin
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012367:RNA, Viral; D022621:Shiga Toxin