rRNA transkriptio borreliabakteerissa

BMC Microbiol. 2011 Jan 20;11:17. doi: 10.1186/1471-2180-11-17.

 

Patterns and regulation of ribosomal RNA transcription in Borrelia burgdorferi.

Bugrysheva JV¹, Godfrey HP, Schwartz I, Cabello FC.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Borrelia burgdorferi contains one 16S and two tandem sets of 23S-5S ribosomal (r) RNA genes whose patterns of transcription and regulation are unknown but are likely to be critical for survival and persistence in its hosts.

RESULTS:

RT-PCR of B. burgdorferi N40 and B31 revealed three rRNA region transcripts: 16S rRNA-alanine transfer RNA (tRNA Ala); tRNA Ile; and both sets of 23S-5S rRNA. At 34°C, there were no differences in growth rate or in accumulation of total protein, DNA and RNA in B31 cultured in Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK)-H whether rabbit serum was present or not. At 23°C, B31 grew more slowly in serum-containing BSK-H than at 34°C. DNA per cell was higher in cells in exponential as compared to stationary phase at either temperature; protein per cell was similar at both temperatures in both phases. Similar amounts of rRNA were produced in exponential phase at both temperatures, and rRNA was down-regulated in stationary phase at either temperature. Interestingly, a rel Bbu deletion mutant unable to generate (p)ppGpp did not down-regulate rRNA at transition to stationary phase in serum-containing BSK-H at 34°C, similar to the relaxed phenotype of E. coli relA mutants.

CONCLUSIONS:

We conclude that rRNA transcription in B. burgdorferi is complex and regulated both by growth phase and by the stringent response but not by temperature-modulated growth rate.

PMID:

21251259

PMCID:

PMC3037291

DOI:

10.1186/1471-2180-11-17