title: A novel small RNA CoaR regulates coenzyme A biosynthesis and tolerance ofSynechocystissp. PCC6803 to 1-butanol possibly via promoter-directed transcriptional silencing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microbial small RNAs (sRNAs) have been proposed as valuable regulatory elements for optimizing cellular metabolism for industrial purposes. However, little information is currently available on functional relevance of sRNAs to biofuels tolerance in cyanobacteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here, we described the identification and functional characterization of a novel 124 nt sRNA Ncl1460 involved in tolerance to biofuel 1-butanol inSynechocystissp. PCC 6803. The expression of Ncl1460 was verified by blotting assay and its length was determined through 3' RACE. Further analysis showed that Ncl1460 was a negative regulator ofslr0847(coaD) andslr0848operon responsible for coenzyme A (CoA) synthesis possiblyviapromoter-directed transcriptional silencing mechanisms which has been widely discovered in eukaryote; thus Ncl1460 was designated as CoaR (CoA Biosynthesis Regulatory sRNA). The possible interaction between CoaR and target genes was suggested by CoA quantification and green fluorescent protein assays. Finally, a quantitative proteomics analysis showed that CoaR regulated tolerance to 1-butanol possibly by down-regulating CoA biosynthesis, resulting in a decrease of fatty acid metabolism and energy metabolism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the first reported sRNA involved CoA synthesis and 1-butanol tolerance in cyanobacteria, this study provides not only novel insights in regulating mechanisms of essential pathways in cyanobacteria, but also valuable target for biofuels tolerance and productivity modifications.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 People's Republic of China.|Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 People's Republic of China.|SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin, 300072 People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 People's Republic of China.|Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 People's Republic of China.|SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin, 300072 People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guangsheng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: Shenzhen Engineering Lab for Marine Algal Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060 People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiangxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 People's Republic of China.|Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 People's Republic of China.|SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin, 300072 People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 People's Republic of China.|Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 People's Republic of China.|SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin, 300072 People's Republic of China.|Center for Biosafety Research and Strategy, Tianjin University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Weiwen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: 1-Butanol; CoA biosynthesis; Synechocystis; Tolerance; Transcriptional silencing; sRNA