Non-coding RNA and RNA chaperone Hfq in bacteria

Abstract:

Bacteria have to adapt complex environment for survival in nature. For this environmental fitness, bacteria generate different response mechanisms to perceive environmental signals for regulating cell physiological and biochemical reaction in the long-term evolution process. Gene expression regulation is one of the response mechanisms with the transcription level and the post-transcriptional level. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play an important role in the post-transcriptional regulation in bacteria. Hfq is required for the action of many ncRNAs that act by base-pairing with target mRNAs. This review summarizes the function of ncRNAs and Hfq in post-transcriptional regulation, including:1. the classification and characteristics of ncRNAs; 2. the structure and function of Hfq protein; 3. non-coding RNAs and Hfq interaction.