The Many Facets of the Small Non-coding RNA RsaE (RoxS) in Metabolic Niche Adaptation of Gram-Positive Bacteria

Abstract

Small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are increasingly recognized as players in the complex regulatory networks governing bacterial gene expression. RsaE (synonym RoxS) is an sRNA that is highly conserved in bacteria of the Bacillales order. Recent analyses in Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis identified RsaE/RoxS as a potent riboregulator of central carbon metabolism and energy balance with many molecular RsaE/RoxS functions and targets being shared across species. Similarities and species-specific differences in cellular processes modulated by RsaE/RoxS suggest that this sRNA plays a prominent role in the adaptation of Gram-positive bacteria to niches with varying nutrient availabilities and environmental cues. This review summarizes recent findings on the molecular function of RsaE/RoxS and its interaction with mRNA targets. Special emphasis will be on the integration of RsaE/RoxS into metabolic regulatory circuits and, derived from this, the role of RsaE/RoxS as a putative driver to generate phenotypic heterogeneity in bacterial populations. In this respect, we will particularly discuss heterogeneous RsaE expression in S. epidermidis biofilms and its possible contribution to metabolic niche diversification, programmed bacterial lysis and biofilm matrix production.

Keywords: RsaE/RoxS; bacterial metabolism; biofilm; population heterogeneity; sRNA.