Elucidation of Small RNAs That Activate Transcription in Bacteria

Small non-coding RNA (sRNA) control of gene expression
has been shown to play a prominent role in genetic regulation. While
the majority of identified bacterial sRNAs exert their control at
the translational level, a few examples of bacterial sRNAs that inhibit
transcription have also been identified. Using an engineered combinatorial
RNA library, we have elucidated bacterial sRNAs that activate transcription
of a target gene in E. coli to varying degrees. Mutation
of the strongest activator modified its activation potential. Our
results suggest that transcriptional activation of our target gene
results from recruitment of the bacterial RNA polymerase complex to
the promoter region. These data, coupled with the malleability of
RNA, provide a context to define synthetic control of genes in bacteria
at the transcriptional level.