The regulatory protein RraA modulates RNA-binding and helicase activities of the E. coli RNA degradosome

RNA. 2010 Mar;16(3):553-62. doi: 10.1261/rna.1858010. Epub 2010 Jan 27.

Abstract

The Escherichia coli endoribonuclease RNase E is an essential enzyme having key roles in mRNA turnover and the processing of several structured RNA precursors, and it provides the scaffold to assemble the multienzyme RNA degradosome. The activity of RNase E is inhibited by the protein RraA, which can interact with the ribonuclease's degradosome-scaffolding domain. Here, we report that RraA can bind to the RNA helicase component of the degradosome (RhlB) and the two RNA-binding sites in the degradosome-scaffolding domain of RNase E. In the presence of ATP, the helicase can facilitate the exchange of RraA for RNA stably bound to the degradosome. Our data suggest that RraA can affect multiple components of the RNA degradosome in a dynamic, energy-dependent equilibrium. The multidentate interactions of RraA impede the RNA-binding and ribonuclease activities of the degradosome and may result in complex modulation and rerouting of degradosome activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / metabolism
  • Endoribonucleases / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism*
  • Polyribonucleotide Nucleotidyltransferase / metabolism*
  • RNA Helicases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • RraA protein, E coli
  • degradosome
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Polyribonucleotide Nucleotidyltransferase
  • Endoribonucleases
  • ribonuclease E
  • RhlB protein, E coli
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases
  • RNA Helicases