RNA-seq analysis of BW25113 Escherichia coli (Wild-type, mutant lacking the RNA Chaperone Hfq, and strains complemented with Wild-type and point mutants of Hfq) experiencing long-term nitrogen starvation in Gutnick minimal media

RNA-seq was carried out to compare the transcriptomes of wild-type BW25113 E coli with a mutant lacking the ubiquitous RNA chaperone Hfq, in bacteria that had been exposed to long-term (24hr) nitrogen starvation in Gutnick minimal media. The mutation was also complemented with wild-type Hfq or point mutants of Hfq (Q8A, V22A & G34A), provided by the arabinose inducible pBAD plasmid. The aim of this was to understand the effect of different point mutations of Hfq on the transcriptome, and specifically sRNA stability under physiological conditions.