Inhibitory effects of RraA and RraB on RNAse E-related enzymes imply conserved functions in the regulated enzymatic cleavage of RNA

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2008 Aug;285(1):10-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2008.01205.x. Epub 2008 May 28.

Abstract

RraA and RraB are recently discovered protein inhibitors of RNAse E, which forms a large protein complex termed the degradosome that catalyzes the initial step in the decay and processing of numerous RNAs in Escherichia coli. Here, we report that these E. coli protein inhibitors physically interact with RNAse ES, a Streptomyces coelicolor functional ortholog of RNAse E, and inhibit its action in vivo as well as in vitro; however, unlike their ability to differentially modulate E. coli RNAse E action in a substrate-dependent manner by altering the composition of the degradosome, both proteins appear to have a general inhibitory effect on the ribonucleolytic activity of RNAse ES, which does not interact with E. coli polynucleotide phosphorylase, a major component of the degradosome. Our findings suggest that these regulators of RNAse activity have a conserved intrinsic property enabling them to directly act on RNAse E-related enzymes and inhibit their general ribonucleolytic activity.

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Endoribonucleases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Endoribonucleases / genetics
  • Endoribonucleases / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Polyribonucleotide Nucleotidyltransferase / genetics
  • Polyribonucleotide Nucleotidyltransferase / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA Stability
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • RNA, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • Streptomyces coelicolor / enzymology
  • Streptomyces coelicolor / genetics

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RraA protein, E coli
  • RraB protein, E coli
  • Polyribonucleotide Nucleotidyltransferase
  • Endoribonucleases
  • ribonuclease E