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Riboswitches are RNA elements acting in cis, controlling expression of their downstream genes through a metabolite-induced alteration of their secondary structure. Here, we demonstrate that two S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) riboswitches, SreA and SreB, can also function in trans and act as noncoding RNAs in Listeria monocytogenes. SreA and SreB control expression of the virulence regulator PrfA by binding to the 5'-untranslated region of its mRNA. Absence of the SAM riboswitches SreA and SreB increases the level of PrfA and virulence gene expression in L. monocytogenes. Thus, the impact of the SAM riboswitches on PrfA expression highlights a link between bacterial virulence and nutrient availability. Together, our results uncover an unexpected role for riboswitches and a distinct class of regulatory noncoding RNAs in bacteria.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.cell.2009.08.046

Type

Journal article

Journal

Cell

Publication Date

13/11/2009

Volume

139

Pages

770 - 779

Keywords

5' Untranslated Regions, Bacterial Proteins, Base Sequence, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Molecular Sequence Data, Peptide Termination Factors, Regulatory Sequences, Ribonucleic Acid, Temperature, Virulence