Spatiotemporal patterns and transcription kinetics of induced RNA in single bacterial cells

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Sep 22;106(38):16399-404. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0907495106. Epub 2009 Sep 11.

Abstract

Bacteria have a complex internal organization with specific localization of many proteins and DNA, which dynamically move during the cell cycle and in response to changing environmental stimuli. Much less is known, however, about the localization and movements of RNA molecules. By modifying our previous RNA labeling system, we monitor the expression and localization of a model RNA transcript in live Escherichia coli cells. Our results reveal that the target RNA is not evenly distributed within the cell and localizes laterally along the long cell axis, in a pattern suggesting the existence of ordered helical RNA structures reminiscent of known bacterial cytoskeletal cellular elements.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Escherichia coli / cytology
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4A / genetics
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4A / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism*
  • Kinetics
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • RNA, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Transcription, Genetic*

Substances

  • RNA, Bacterial
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4A