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Formation of a membraneless compartment regulates bacterial virulence

Author

Listed:
  • Lior Aroeti

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Netanel Elbaz

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Raya Faigenbaum-Romm

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    The Hebrew University)

  • Oren Yakovian

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    The Hebrew University)

  • Yael Altuvia

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Liron Argaman

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Naama Katsowich

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Michal Bejerano-Sagie

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Miriam Ravins

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Hanah Margalit

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Sigal Ben-Yehuda

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Ilan Rosenshine

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

Abstract

The RNA-binding protein CsrA regulates the expression of hundreds of genes in several bacterial species, thus controlling virulence and other processes. However, the outcome of the CsrA-mRNA interactions is modulated by competing small RNAs and other factors through mechanisms that are only partially understood. Here, we show that CsrA accumulates in a dynamic membraneless compartment in cells of E. coli and other pathogenic species. In addition to CsrA, the compartment contains components of the RNA-degrading complex (degradosome), regulatory small RNAs, and selected mRNAs. Formation of the compartment is associated with a switch between promoting and repressing virulence gene expression by CsrA. We suggest that similar CsrA switches may be widespread in diverse bacteria.

Suggested Citation

  • Lior Aroeti & Netanel Elbaz & Raya Faigenbaum-Romm & Oren Yakovian & Yael Altuvia & Liron Argaman & Naama Katsowich & Michal Bejerano-Sagie & Miriam Ravins & Hanah Margalit & Sigal Ben-Yehuda & Ilan R, 2025. "Formation of a membraneless compartment regulates bacterial virulence," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58829-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58829-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anastasia H. Potts & Christopher A. Vakulskas & Archana Pannuri & Helen Yakhnin & Paul Babitzke & Tony Romeo, 2017. "Global role of the bacterial post-transcriptional regulator CsrA revealed by integrated transcriptomics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Maria Hondele & Ruchika Sachdev & Stephanie Heinrich & Juan Wang & Pascal Vallotton & Beatriz M. A. Fontoura & Karsten Weis, 2019. "DEAD-box ATPases are global regulators of phase-separated organelles," Nature, Nature, vol. 573(7772), pages 144-148, September.
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