Genome-wide analysis shows that RNase G plays a global role in the stability of mRNAs in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Sci Rep. 2017 Nov 22;7(1):16016. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-16091-0.

Abstract

Gene expression is determined by critical processes such as RNA synthesis and degradation. Ribonucleases participate in the coordinated and differential decay of messenger RNAs. We describe a suitable method of normalization and calculation of mRNAs half-life values quantified by RNA-Seq. We determined the mRNA half-lives of more than 2000 genes in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia D457 and in an isogenic RNase G deficient mutant. Median half-lives were 2,74 and 3 min in the wild-type and the rng-deficient strain, respectively. The absence of RNase G resulted in an overall enhancement of mRNA half-life times, showing that many RNAs are targets of RNase G in S. maltophilia. Around 40 genes are likely to be regulated directly by RNase G since their half-lives were more than two-fold higher in the rng-deficient mutant. Gene length, GC content or expression levels did not correlate with mRNAs lifetimes, although groups of genes with different functions showed different RNA half-lives. Further, we predicted 1542 gene pairs to be part of the same operons in S. maltophilia. In contrast to what was described for other bacteria, our data indicate that RNase G has a global role in mRNA stability and consequently in the regulation of S. maltophilia gene expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / genetics
  • RNA Stability / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*
  • Stenotrophomonas maltophilia / genetics*

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger