Dd. Sledjeski et al., THE SMALL RNA, DSRA, IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE LOW-TEMPERATURE EXPRESSION OF RPOS DURING EXPONENTIAL-GROWTH IN ESCHERICHIA-COLI, EMBO journal, 15(15), 1996, pp. 3993-4000
dsrA encodes a small, untranslated RNA. When overexpressed, DsrA antag
onizes the H-NS-mediated silencing of numerous promoters. Cells devoid
of DsrA grow normally and show little change in the expression of a n
umber of H-NS-silenced genes. Expression of a transcriptional fusion o
f lacZ to dsrB, the gene next to dsrA, is significantly lower in cells
carrying mutations in dsrA. All expression of beta-galactosidase from
the dsrB::lacZ fusion is also dependent on the stationary phase sigma
factor, RpoS. DsrA RNA was found to regulate dsrB::lacZ indirectly, b
y modulating RpoS synthesis, Levels of RpoS protein are substantially
lower in a dsrA mutant, both in stationary and exponential phase cells
. Mutations in dsrA decrease the expression of an RpoS::LacZ translati
onal fusion, but not a transcriptional fusion, suggesting that DsrA is
acting after transcription initiation. While RpoS expression is very
low in exponential phase at temperatures of 30 degrees C and above, at
20 degrees C there is substantial synthesis of RpoS during exponentia
l growth, all dependent on DsrA RNA, dsrA expression is also increased
at low temperatures. These results suggest a new role for RpoS during
exponential growth at low temperatures, mediated by DsrA.