Function, mechanism and structural basis for the regulation of gene expression by small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) in γ-proteobacteria (B17*)

• Subject Area: Biochemistry
• Term: from 2019 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 161793742

In bacteria small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) play an important role in the regulation of protein expression and facilitate the rapid adaptation of the bacterial metabolism to environmental changes. Many bacterial sRNAs work in concert with the RNA-binding proteins Hfq and ProQ. We showed that Hfq- and ProQ-mediated sRNA-based mechanisms strongly influence the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in certain -proteobacteria and solved the structure of a minimal ProQ homolog. The aim of this project is to delineate the molecular basis for sRNA-based regulatory mechanisms in these bacteria by combining transcriptomic methods, in vivo mutagenesis, in vitro biochemical and biophysical experiments with structural biology approaches

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 902: Molecular Principles of RNA-based Regulation
• Applicant Institution: Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Helge Björn Bode, since 7/2019; Professor Dr. Jens Wöhnert, since 7/2019