Posttranscription initiation control of tryptophan metabolism in Bacillus subtilis by the trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP), anti-TRAP, and RNA structure

Preparation, Functionalization, Modification, and Applications of Nanostructured Gold: A Critical Review

Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) play a significant role in science and technology because of their unique size, shape, properties and broad range of potential applications. This review focuses on the various approaches employed for the synthesis, modification and functionalization of nanostructured Au. The potential catalytic applications and their enhancement upon modification of Au nanostructures have also been discussed in detail. The present analysis also offers brief summaries of the major Au nanomaterials synthetic procedures, such as hydrothermal, solvothermal, sol-gel, direct oxidation, chemical vapor deposition, sonochemical deposition, electrochemical deposition, microwave and laser pyrolysis. Among the various strategies used for improving the catalytic performance of nanostructured Au, the modification and functionalization of nanostructured Au produced better results. Therefore, various synthesis, modification and functionalization methods employed for better catalytic outcomes of nanostructured Au have been summarized in this review.

Structure-seq2 probing of RNA structure upon amino acid starvation reveals both known and novel RNA switches in Bacillus subtilis

RNA structure influences numerous processes in all organisms. In bacteria, these processes include transcription termination and attenuation, small RNA and protein binding, translation initiation, and mRNA stability, and can be regulated via metabolite availability and other stresses. Here we use Structure-seq2 to probe the in vivo RNA structurome of Bacillus subtilis grown in the presence and absence of amino acids. Our results reveal that amino acid starvation results in lower overall dimethyl sulfate (DMS) reactivity of the transcriptome, indicating enhanced protection owing to protein binding or RNA structure. Starvation-induced changes in DMS reactivity correlated inversely with transcript abundance changes. This correlation was particularly pronounced in genes associated with the stringent response and CodY regulons, which are involved in adaptation to nutritional stress, suggesting that RNA structure contributes to transcript abundance change in regulons involved in amino acid metabolism. Structure-seq2 accurately reported on four known amino acid-responsive riboswitches: T-box, SAM, glycine, and lysine riboswitches. Additionally, we discovered a transcription attenuation mechanism that reduces yfmG expression when amino acids are added to the growth medium. We also found that translation of a leader peptide (YfmH) encoded just upstream of yfmG regulates yfmG expression. Our results are consistent with a model in which a slow rate of yfmH translation caused by limitation of the amino acids encoded in YfmH prevents transcription termination in the yfmG leader region by favoring formation of an overlapping antiterminator structure. This novel RNA switch offers a way to simultaneously monitor the levels of multiple amino acids.

An autoinhibitory mechanism controls RNA-binding activity of the nitrate-sensing protein NasR

The ANTAR domain harnesses RNA‐binding activity to promote transcription attenuation. Although several ANTAR proteins have been analyzed by high‐resolution structural analyses, the residues involved in RNA‐recognition and transcription attenuation have not been identified. Nor is it clear how signal‐responsive domains are allosterically coupled with ANTAR domains for control of gene expression. Herein, we examined the sequence conservation of ANTAR domains to find residues that may associate with RNA. We subjected the corresponding positions of Klebsiella oxytoca NasR to site‐directed alanine substitutions and measured RNA‐binding activity. This revealed a functionally important patch of residues that forms amino acid pairing interactions with residues from NasR’s nitrate‐sensing NIT domain. We hypothesize these amino acid pairing interactions are part of an autoinhibitory mechanism that holds the structure in an “off” state in the absence of nitrate signal. Indeed, mutational disruption of these interactions resulted in constitutively active proteins, freed from autoinhibition and no longer influenced by nitrate. Moreover, sequence analyses suggested the autoinhibitory mechanism has been evolutionarily maintained by NasR proteins. These data reveal a molecular mechanism for how NasR couples its nitrate signal to RNA‐binding activity, and generally show how signal‐responsive domains of one‐component regulatory proteins have evolved to exert control over RNA‐binding ANTAR domains.

The effects of iclaprim on exotoxin production in methicillin-resistant and vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus

PURPOSE

Extracellular protein toxins contribute to the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus infections. The present study compared the effects of iclaprim and trimethoprim - two folic acid synthesis inhibitors - with nafcillin and vancomycin on production of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), alpha haemolysin (AH) and toxic-shock syndrome toxin I (TSST-1) in methicillin-resistant and vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (MRSA and VISA, respectively).

METHODOLOGY

Northern blotting and RT-PCR were used to assess gene transcription; toxin-specific bioassays were used to measure protein toxin production.

RESULTS

As shown previously, sub-inhibitory concentrations (sub-MIC) of nafcillin increased and prolonged MRSA toxin gene transcription and enhanced PVL, TSST-1 and AH production. Sub-inhibitory doses of iclaprim and trimethoprim delayed maximal AH gene (hla) transcription and suppressed AH production; both drugs delayed, but neither reduced, maximal TSST-1 production. Trimethoprim significantly increased lukF-PV expression and PVL production compared to both untreated and iclaprim-treated cultures. Higher concentrations of iclaprim and trimethoprim markedly suppressed MRSA growth, mRNA synthesis and toxin production. In VISA, iclaprim, vancomycin and nafcillin variably increased tst and hla expression, but only nafcillin increased toxin production. Despite its ability to increase hla expression, iclaprim was the most potent inhibitor of AH production.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that, due to its ability to suppress toxin production, iclaprim should be effective against severe staphylococcal infections caused by toxin-producing MRSA and VISA strains, especially given its ability to concentrate at sites of infection such as skin and skin structures and the lung.

Recent advances and future trends of riboswitches: attractive regulatory tools

Bacterial genomes contain a huge amount of different genes. These genes are spatiotemporally expressed to accomplish some required functions within the organism. Inside the cell, any step of gene expression may be modulated at four possible places such as transcription initiation, translation regulation, mRNA stability and protein stability. To achieve this, there is a necessity of strong regulators either natural or synthetic which can fine-tune gene expression regarding the required function. In recent years, riboswitches as metabolite responsive control elements residing in the untranslated regions of certain messenger RNAs, have been known to control gene expression at transcription or translation level. Importantly, these control elements do not prescribe the involvement of protein factors for metabolite binding. However, they own their particular properties to sense intramolecular metabolites (ligands). Herein, we highlighted current important bacterial riboswitches, their applications to support genetic control, ligand-binding domain mechanisms and current progress in synthetic riboswitches.

Ethanolamine Utilization in Bacteria

Ethanolamine (EA) is a valuable source of carbon and/or nitrogen for bacteria capable of its catabolism. Because it is derived from the membrane phospholipid phosphatidylethanolamine, it is particularly prevalent in the gastrointestinal tract, which is membrane rich due to turnover of the intestinal epithelium and the resident microbiota. Intriguingly, many gut pathogens carry the eut (ethanolamine utilization) genes. EA utilization has been studied for about 50 years, with most of the early work occurring in just a couple of species of Enterobacteriaceae. Once the metabolic pathways and enzymes were characterized by biochemical approaches, genetic screens were used to map the various activities to the eut genes. With the rise of genomics, the diversity of bacteria containing the eut genes and surprising differences in eut gene content were recognized. Some species contain nearly 20 genes and encode many accessory proteins, while others contain only the core catabolic enzyme. Moreover, the eut genes are regulated by very different mechanisms, depending on the organism and the eut regulator encoded. In the last several years, exciting progress has been made in elucidating the complex regulatory mechanisms that govern eut gene expression. Furthermore, a new appreciation for how EA contributes to infection and colonization in the host is emerging. In addition to providing an overview of EA-related biology, this minireview will give special attention to these recent advances.

Secondary structural entropy in RNA switch (Riboswitch) identification

BACKGROUND

RNA regulatory elements play a significant role in gene regulation. Riboswitches, a widespread group of regulatory RNAs, are vital components of many bacterial genomes. These regulatory elements generally function by forming a ligand-induced alternative fold that controls access to ribosome binding sites or other regulatory sites in RNA. Riboswitch-mediated mechanisms are ubiquitous across bacterial genomes. A typical class of riboswitch has its own unique structural and biological complexity, making de novo riboswitch identification a formidable task. Traditionally, riboswitches have been identified through comparative genomics based on sequence and structural homology. The limitations of structural-homology-based approaches, coupled with the assumption that there is a great diversity of undiscovered riboswitches, suggests the need for alternative methods for riboswitch identification, possibly based on features intrinsic to their structure. As of yet, no such reliable method has been proposed.

RESULTS

We used structural entropy of riboswitch sequences as a measure of their secondary structural dynamics. Entropy values of a diverse set of riboswitches were compared to that of their mutants, their dinucleotide shuffles, and their reverse complement sequences under different stochastic context-free grammar folding models. Significance of our results was evaluated by comparison to other approaches, such as the base-pairing entropy and energy landscapes dynamics. Classifiers based on structural entropy optimized via sequence and structural features were devised as riboswitch identifiers and tested on Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Synechococcus elongatus as an exploration of structural entropy based approaches. The unusually long untranslated region of the cotH in Bacillus subtilis, as well as upstream regions of certain genes, such as the sucC genes were associated with significant structural entropy values in genome-wide examinations.

CONCLUSIONS

Various tests show that there is in fact a relationship between higher structural entropy and the potential for the RNA sequence to have alternative structures, within the limitations of our methodology. This relationship, though modest, is consistent across various tests. Understanding the behavior of structural entropy as a fairly new feature for RNA conformational dynamics, however, may require extensive exploratory investigation both across RNA sequences and folding models.

Antisense-RNA mediated control of plasmid replication - pIP501 revisited

Over the past decade, a wealth of small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) have been discovered in the genomes of almost all bacterial species, where they constitute the most abundant class of posttranscriptional regulators. These sRNAs are key-players in prokaryotic metabolism, stress response and virulence. However, the first bona-fide antisense RNAs had been found already in 1981 in plasmids, where they regulate replication or maintenance. Antisense RNAs involved in plasmid replication control - meanwhile investigated in depth for almost 35 years - employ a variety of mechanisms of action: They regulate primer maturation, inhibit translation of essential replication initiator proteins (Rep proteins) as well as leader peptides or the formation of activator pseudoknots required for efficient rep translation. Alternatively they attenuate transcription or translation of rep mRNAs. Some antisense RNAs collaborate with transcriptional repressors to ensure proper copy-number control. Here, I summarize our knowledge on replication control of the broad-host range plasmid pIP501 that was originally isolated from Streptococcus agalactiae. Plasmid pIP501 uses two copy number-control elements, RNAIII, a cis-encoded antisense RNA, and transcriptional repressor CopR. RNA III mediates transcription attenuation, a rather widespread concept that found its culmination in the recent discovery of riboswitches. A peculiarity of pIP501 is the unusual stability of RNA III, which requires a second function of CopR: CopR does not only repress transcription from the essential repR promoter, but also prevents convergent transcription between rep mRNA and RNAIII, thereby indirectly increasing the amount of RNAIII. The concerted action of these two control elements is necessary to prevent plasmid loss at dangerously low copy numbers.

An RpoS-dependent sRNA regulates the expression of a chaperone involved in protein folding

Small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) are usually expressed in the cell to face a variety of stresses. In this report we disclose the first target for SraL (also known as RyjA), a sRNA present in many bacteria, which is highly induced in stationary phase. We also demonstrate that this sRNA is directly transcribed by the major stress σ factor σ(S) (RpoS) in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. We show that SraL sRNA down-regulates the expression of the chaperone Trigger Factor (TF), encoded by the tig gene. TF is one of the three major chaperones that cooperate in the folding of the newly synthesized cytosolic proteins and is the only ribosome-associated chaperone known in bacteria. By use of bioinformatic tools and mutagenesis experiments, SraL was shown to directly interact with the 5' UTR of the tig mRNA a few nucleotides upstream of the Shine-Dalgarno region. Namely, point mutations in the sRNA (SraL*) abolished the repression of tig mRNA and could only down-regulate a tig transcript target with the respective compensatory mutations. We have also validated in vitro that SraL forms a stable duplex with the tig mRNA. This work constitutes the first report of a small RNA affecting protein folding. Taking into account that both SraL and TF are very well conserved in enterobacteria, this work will have important repercussions in the field.

Use of RNA in drug design

This is a review of RNA as a target for small molecules (ribosomes, riboswitches, regulatory RNAs) and RNA-derived oligonucleotides as tools (antisense/small interfering RNA, ribozymes, aptamers/decoy RNA and microRNA). This review highlights the present state of research using RNA as a drug target or as a potential drug candidate and explains at which stage and to what extent rational design could eventually be involved. Special attention has been paid to the recent potential clinical applications of RNA either as drugs or drug targets. The review deals mainly with mechanistic approaches rather than with physicochemical or computational aspects of RNA-based drug design.

Protein nanotubes, channels and cages

Proteins are the work-horses of life and excute the essential processes involved in the growth and repair of cells. These roles include all aspects of cell signalling, metabolism and repair that allow living things to exist. They are not only chemical catalysts and machine components, they are also structural components of the cell or organism, capable of self-organisation into strong supramolecular cages, fibres and meshes. How proteins are encoded genetically and how they are sythesised in vivo is now well understood, and for an increasing number of proteins, the relationship between structure and function is known in exquisite detail. The next challenge in bionanoscience is to adapt useful protein systems to build new functional structures. Well-defined natural structures with potential useful shapes are a good starting point. With this in mind, in this chapter we discuss the properties of natural and artificial protein channels, nanotubes and cages with regard to recent progress and potential future applications. Chemistries for attaching together different proteins to form superstructures are considered as well as the difficulties associated with designing complex protein structures ab initio.

The mechanism for RNA recognition by ANTAR regulators of gene expression

ANTAR proteins are widespread bacterial regulatory proteins that have RNA–binding output domains and utilize antitermination to control gene expression at the post-initiation level. An ANTAR protein, EutV, regulates the ethanolamine-utilization genes (eut) in Enterococcus faecalis. Using this system, we present genetic and biochemical evidence of a general mechanism of antitermination used by ANTARs, including details of the antiterminator structure. The novel antiterminator structure consists of two small hairpins with highly conserved terminal loop residues, both features being essential for successful antitermination. The ANTAR protein dimerizes and associates with its substrate RNA in response to signal-induced phosphorylation. Furthermore, bioinformatic searches using this conserved antiterminator motif identified many new ANTAR target RNAs in phylogenetically diverse bacterial species, some comprising complex regulons. Despite the unrelatedness of the species in which they are found, the majority of the ANTAR–associated genes are thematically related to nitrogen management. These data suggest that the central tenets for gene regulation by ANTAR antitermination occur widely in nature to specifically control nitrogen metabolism.

In bacteria, two-component regulatory systems comprise the primary mechanisms for how microorganisms respond to changes in their environment. These signal transduction systems rely upon phosphotransfer between two conserved proteins, a histidine kinase and a response regulator, to propagate the signal and affect cellular biology. Phosphorylation of the response regulator has been shown in many systems to control DNA–binding activity, protein–protein interactions, or enzymatic activity. However, in this study, we discover a general RNA substrate for a large family of putative RNA–binding response regulator proteins called ANTAR proteins. By identifying the general architecture of this RNA recognition element, our bioinformatic searches were then able to discover many more examples of these RNA motifs in bacteria. Indeed, our data together revealed that the regulatory relationship between ANTAR proteins and the RNA motif identified in this study is widespread among phylogenetically diverse bacteria for control of numerous nitrogen metabolism genes.

Gold nanoparticle-induced formation of artificial protein capsids

Gold nanoparticles are generally considered to be biologically inactive. However, in this study we show that the addition of 1.4 nm diameter gold nanoparticle induces the remodeling of the ring-shaped protein TRAP into a hollow, capsid-like configuration. This structural remodeling is dependent upon the presence of cysteine residues on the TRAP surface as well as the specific type of gold nanoparticle. The results reveal an apparent novel catalytic role of gold nanoparticles.

The critical role of RNA processing and degradation in the control of gene expression

The continuous degradation and synthesis of prokaryotic mRNAs not only give rise to the metabolic changes that are required as cells grow and divide but also rapid adaptation to new environmental conditions. In bacteria, RNAs can be degraded by mechanisms that act independently, but in parallel, and that target different sites with different efficiencies. The accessibility of sites for degradation depends on several factors, including RNA higher-order structure, protection by translating ribosomes and polyadenylation status. Furthermore, RNA degradation mechanisms have shown to be determinant for the post-transcriptional control of gene expression. RNases mediate the processing, decay and quality control of RNA. RNases can be divided into endonucleases that cleave the RNA internally or exonucleases that cleave the RNA from one of the extremities. Just in Escherichia coli there are >20 different RNases. RNase E is a single-strand-specific endonuclease critical for mRNA decay in E. coli. The enzyme interacts with the exonuclease polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase), enolase and RNA helicase B (RhlB) to form the degradosome. However, in Bacillus subtilis, this enzyme is absent, but it has other main endonucleases such as RNase J1 and RNase III. RNase III cleaves double-stranded RNA and family members are involved in RNA interference in eukaryotes. RNase II family members are ubiquitous exonucleases, and in eukaryotes, they can act as the catalytic subunit of the exosome. RNases act in different pathways to execute the maturation of rRNAs and tRNAs, and intervene in the decay of many different mRNAs and small noncoding RNAs. In general, RNases act as a global regulatory network extremely important for the regulation of RNA levels.

Amino acid recognition and gene regulation by riboswitches

Riboswitches specifically control expression of genes predominantly involved in biosynthesis, catabolism and transport of various cellular metabolites in organisms from all three kingdoms of life. Among many classes of identified riboswitches, two riboswitches respond to amino acids lysine and glycine to date. Though these riboswitches recognize small compounds, they both belong to the largest riboswitches and have unique structural and functional characteristics. In this review, we attempt to characterize molecular recognition principles employed by amino acid-responsive riboswitches to selectively bind their cognate ligands and to effectively perform a gene regulation function. We summarize up-to-date biochemical and genetic data available for the lysine and glycine riboswitches and correlate these results with recent high-resolution structural information obtained for the lysine riboswitch. We also discuss the contribution of lysine riboswitches to antibiotic resistance and outline potential applications of riboswitches in biotechnology and medicine.

Bacillus subtilis trp Leader RNA: RNase J1 endonuclease cleavage specificity and PNPase processing

In the presence of ample tryptophan, transcription from the Bacillus subtilis trp operon promoter terminates to give a 140-nucleotide trp leader RNA. Turnover of trp leader RNA has been shown to depend on RNase J1 cleavage at a single-stranded, AU-rich region just upstream of the 3' transcription terminator. The small size of trp leader RNA and its strong dependence on RNase J1 cleavage for decay make it a suitable substrate for analyzing the requirements for RNase J1 target site specificity. trp leader RNAs with nucleotide changes around the RNase J1 target site were more stable than wild-type trp leader RNA, showing that sequences on either side of the cleavage site contribute to RNase J1 recognition. An analysis of decay intermediates from these mutants suggested limited 3'-to-5' exonuclease processing from the native 3' end. trp leader RNAs were designed that contained wild-type or mutant RNase J1 targets elsewhere on the molecule. The presence of an additional RNase J1 cleavage site resulted in faster RNA decay, depending on its location. Addition of a 5' tail containing 7 A residues caused destabilization of trp leader RNAs. Surprisingly, addition at the 5' end of a strong stem loop structure that is known to stabilize other RNAs did not result in a longer trp leader RNA half-life, suggesting that the RNase J1 cleavage site may be accessed directly. In the course of these experiments, we found evidence that polynucleotide phosphorylase processivity was inhibited by a GCGGCCGC sequence.

Biochemical features and functional implications of the RNA-based T-box regulatory mechanism

The T-box mechanism is a common regulatory strategy used for modulating the expression of genes of amino acid metabolism-related operons in gram-positive bacteria, especially members of the Firmicutes. T-box regulation is usually based on a transcription attenuation mechanism in which an interaction between a specific uncharged tRNA and the 5' region of the transcript stabilizes an antiterminator structure in preference to a terminator structure, thereby preventing transcription termination. Although single T-box regulatory elements are common, double or triple T-box arrangements are also observed, expanding the regulatory range of these elements. In the present study, we predict the functional implications of T-box regulation in genes encoding aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, proteins of amino acid biosynthetic pathways, transporters, and regulatory proteins. We also consider the global impact of the use of this regulatory mechanism on cell physiology. Novel biochemical relationships between regulated genes and their corresponding metabolic pathways were revealed. Some of the genes identified, such as the quorum-sensing gene luxS, in members of the Lactobacillaceae were not previously predicted to be regulated by the T-box mechanism. Our analyses also predict an imbalance in tRNA sensing during the regulation of operons containing multiple aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase genes or biosynthetic genes involved in pathways common to more than one amino acid. Based on the distribution of T-box regulatory elements, we propose that this regulatory mechanism originated in a common ancestor of members of the Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, Deinococcus-Thermus group, and Actinobacteria and was transferred into the Deltaproteobacteria by horizontal gene transfer.

Role of Bacillus subtilis RNase J1 endonuclease and 5'-exonuclease activities in trp leader RNA turnover

The 140-nucleotide trp leader RNA, which is formed by transcription termination under conditions of high intracellular tryptophan, was used to study RNA turnover in Bacillus subtilis. We showed in vivo that the amount of endonuclease cleavage at approximately nucleotide 100 is decreased under conditions where RNase J1 concentration is reduced. In addition, under these conditions the level of 3'-terminal RNA fragments, which contain the strong transcription terminator structure, increases dramatically. These results implicated RNase J1 in the initiation of trp leader RNA decay as well as in the subsequent steps leading to complete turnover of the terminator fragment. To confirm a direct role for RNase J1, experiments were performed in vitro with various forms of trp leader RNA and 3'-terminal RNA fragments. Specific endonuclease cleavages, which were restricted to single-stranded regions not bound by protein, were observed. Degradation of the 3'-terminal fragment by the 5' to 3'-exonuclease activity of RNase J1 was also demonstrated, although the presence of strong secondary structure impeded RNase J1 processivity to some extent. These results are consistent with a model for mRNA decay in Bacillus subtilis whereby the downstream products of RNase J1 endonucleolytic cleavage become substrates for the 5' to 3'-exoribonuclease activity of the enzyme.

Regulation of pyr gene expression in Mycobacterium smegmatis by PyrR-dependent translational repression

Regulation of pyrimidine biosynthetic (pyr) genes by a transcription attenuation mechanism that is mediated by the PyrR mRNA-binding regulatory protein has been demonstrated for numerous gram-positive bacteria. Mycobacterial genomes specify pyrR genes and contain obvious PyrR-binding sequences in the initially transcribed regions of their pyr operons, but transcription antiterminator and attenuation terminator sequences are absent from their pyr 5' leader regions. This work demonstrates that repression of pyr operon expression in Mycobacterium smegmatis by exogenous uracil requires the pyrR gene and the pyr leader RNA sequence for binding of PyrR. Plasmids containing the M. smegmatis pyr promoter-leader region translationally fused to lacZ also displayed pyrR-dependent repression, but transcriptional fusions of the same sequences to a lacZ gene that retained the lacZ ribosome-binding site were not regulated by PyrR plus uracil. We propose that PyrR regulates pyr expression in M. smegmatis, other mycobacteria, and probably in numerous other bacteria by a translational repression mechanism in which nucleotide-regulated binding of PyrR occludes the first ribosome-binding site of the pyr operon.

Comparison of tryptophan biosynthetic operon regulation in different Gram-positive bacterial species

The tryptophan biosynthetic operon has been widely used as a model system for studying transcription regulation. In Bacillus subtilis, the trp operon is primarily regulated by a tryptophan-activated RNA-binding protein, TRAP. Here we show that in many other Gram-positive species the trp operon is regulated differently, by tRNA(Trp) sensing by the RNA-based T-box mechanism, with T-boxes arranged in tandem. Our analyses reveal an apparent relationship between trp operon organization and the specific regulatory mechanism(s) used.

The rate of TRAP binding to RNA is crucial for transcription attenuation control of the B. subtilis trp operon

The trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) regulates expression of the tryptophan biosynthetic and transport genes in Bacillus subtilis in response to changes in the levels of intracellular tryptophan. Transcription of the trpEDCFBA operon is controlled by an attenuation mechanism involving two overlapping RNA secondary structures in the 5' leader region of the trp transcript; TRAP binding promotes formation of a transcription terminator structure that halts transcription prior to the structural genes. TRAP consists of 11 identical subunits and is activated to bind RNA by binding up to 11 molecules of L-tryptophan. The TRAP binding site in the leader region of the trp operon mRNA consists of 11 (G/U)AG repeats. We examined the importance of the rate of TRAP binding to RNA for the transcription attenuation mechanism. We compared the properties of two types of TRAP 11-mers: homo-11-mers composed of 11 wild-type subunits, and hetero-11-mers with only one wild-type subunit and ten mutant subunits defective in binding either RNA or tryptophan. The hetero-11-mers bound RNA with only slightly diminished equilibrium binding affinity but with slower on-rates as compared to WT TRAP. The hetero-11-mers showed significantly decreased ability to induce transcription termination in the trp leader region when examined using an in vitro attenuation system. Together these results indicate that the rate of TRAP binding to RNA is a crucial factor in TRAP's ability to control attenuation.

Initiation of decay of Bacillus subtilis trp leader RNA

Transcription termination in the leader region of the Bacillus subtilis trp operon is regulated by binding of the 11-mer TRAP complex to nascent trp RNA, which results in formation of a terminator structure. Rapid decay of trp leader RNA, which is required to release the TRAP complex and maintain a sufficient supply of free TRAP, is mediated by polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase). Using purified B. subtilis PNPase, we showed that, when TRAP was present, PNPase binding to the 3' end of trp leader RNA and PNPase digestion of trp leader RNA from the 3' end were inefficient. These results suggested that initiation of trp leader RNA may begin with an endonuclease cleavage upstream of the transcription terminator structure. Such cleavage was observed in vivo. Mutagenesis of nucleotides at the cleavage site abolished processing and resulted in a 4-fold increase in trp leader RNA half-life. This is the first mapping of a decay-initiating endonuclease cleavage site on a native B. subtilis RNA.

Towards the entire proteome of the model bacterium Bacillus subtilis by gel-based and gel-free approaches

With the emergence of mass spectrometry in protein science and the availability of complete genome sequences, proteomics has gone through a rapid development. The soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis, as one of the first DNA sequenced species, represents a model for Gram-positive bacteria and its proteome was extensively studied throughout the years. Having the final goal to elucidate how life really functions, one basic requirement is to know the entirety of cellular proteins. This review presents how far we have got in unraveling the proteome of B. subtilis. The application of gel-based and gel-free technologies, the analyses of different subcellular proteome fractions, and the pursuance of various physiological strategies resulted in a coverage of more than one-third of B. subtilis theoretical proteome.

Global Gene Expression Profiling of Bacillus subtilis in Response to Ammonium and Tryptophan Starvation as Revealed by Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis

The global gene expression profile of Bacillus subtilis in response to ammonium and tryptophan starvation was analyzed using transcriptomics and proteomics which gained novel insights into these starvation responses. The results demonstrate that both starvation conditions induce specific, overlapping and general starvation responses. The TnrA regulon, the glutamine synthetase (glnA) as well as the sigma(L)-dependent bkd and roc operons were most strongly and specifically induced after ammonium starvation. These are involved in the uptake and utilization of ammonium and alternative nitrogen sources such as amino acids, gamma-aminobutyrate, nitrate/nitrite, uric acid/urea and oligopeptides. In addition, several carbon catabolite-controlled genes (e.g. acsA, citB), the alpha-acetolactate synthase/-decarboxylase alsSD operon and several aminotransferase genes were specifically induced after ammonium starvation. The induction of sigma(F)- and sigma(E)-dependent sporulation proteins at later time points in ammonium-starved cells was accompanied by an increased sporulation frequency. The specific response to tryptophan starvation includes the TRAP-regulated tryptophan biosynthesis genes, some RelA-dependent genes (e.g. adeC, ald) as well as spo0E. Furthermore, we recognized overlapping responses between ammonium and tryptophan starvation (e.g. dat, maeN) as well as the common induction of the CodY and sigma(H) general starvation regulons and the RelA-dependent stringent response. Many genes encoding proteins of so far unknown functions could be assigned to specifically or commonly induced genes.

Remodeling of ribonucleoprotein complexes with DExH/D RNA helicases

The DExH/D protein family is the largest group of enzymes in eukaryotic RNA metabolism. DExH/D proteins are mainly known for their ability to unwind RNA duplexes in an ATP-dependent fashion. However, it has become clear in recent years that these DExH/D RNA helicases are also involved in the ATP-dependent remodeling of RNA–protein complexes. Here we review recent studies that highlight physiological roles of DExH/D proteins in the displacement of proteins from RNA. We further discuss work with simple RNA–protein complexes in vitro, which illuminates mechanisms by which DExH/D proteins remove proteins from RNA. Although we are only beginning to understand how DExH/D proteins remodel RNA–protein complexes, these studies have shown that an ‘RNA helicase’ does not per se require cofactors to displace proteins from RNA, that protein displacement does not necessarily involve RNA duplex unwinding, and that not all DExH/D proteins are able to disassemble the same range of ribonucleoproteins.

Proteome signatures for stress and starvation inBacillus subtilis as revealed by a 2-D gel image color coding approach

In this paper we have defined proteome signatures of Bacillus subtilis in response to heat, salt, peroxide, and superoxide stress as well as after starvation for ammonium, tryptophan, glucose, and phosphate using the 2-D gel-based approach. In total, 79 stress-induced and 155 starvation-induced marker proteins were identified including 50% that are not expressed in the vegetative proteome. Fused proteome maps and a color coding approach have been used to define stress-specific regulons that are involved in specific adaptative functions (HrcA for heat, PerR and Fur for oxidative stress, RecA for peroxide, CymR and S-box for superoxide stress). In addition, starvation-specific regulons are defined that are involved in the uptake or utilization of alternative nutrient sources (TnrA, sigmaL/BkdR for ammonium; tryptophan-activated RNA-binding attenuation protein for tryptophan; CcpA, CcpN, sigmaL/AcoR for glucose; PhoPR for phosphate starvation). The general stress or starvation proteome signatures include the CtsR, Spx, sigmaL/RocR, sigmaB, sigmaH, CodY, sigmaF, and sigmaE regulons. Among these, the Spx-dependent oxidase NfrA was induced by all stress conditions indicating stress-induced protein damages. Finally, a subset of sigmaH-dependent proteins (sporulation response regulator, YvyD, YtxH, YisK, YuxI, YpiB) and the CodY-dependent aspartyl phosphatase RapA were defined as general starvation proteins that indicate the transition to stationary phase caused by starvation.

Crystal structure of Bacillus subtilis anti-TRAP protein, an antagonist of TRAP/RNA interaction

In Bacillus subtilis the anti-TRAP protein (AT) is produced in response to the accumulation of uncharged tRNA(Trp). AT regulates expression of genes involved in tryptophan biosynthesis and transport by binding to the tryptophan-activated trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) and preventing its interaction with several mRNAs. Here, we report the x-ray structure of AT at 2.8 angstroms resolution, showing that the protein subunits assemble into tight trimers. Four such trimers are further associated into a 12-subunit particle in which individual trimers are related by twofold and threefold symmetry axes. Twelve DnaJ-like, cysteine-rich zinc-binding domains form spikes on the surface of the dodecamer. Available data suggest several possible ways for AT to interact with the 11-subunit TRAP. Interaction between the two symmetry-mismatching molecules could be assisted by the flexible nature of AT zinc-binding domains.

Regulation of metabolic networks: understanding metabolic complexity in the systems biology era

Metabolism is one of the best recognised networks within biological systems, but our understanding of metabolic regulation has been limited by a failure to consider regulation within the context of the whole network. With recent advances in theoretical aspects of network thinking and a postgenomic landscape in which our ability to quantify molecular changes at a systems level is unsurpassed, the time is ripe for the development of a new level of understanding of the regulation of plant metabolic networks. Theoretical advances such as the formal description of 'scale-free' networks have provided explanations for network behaviour (such as robustness). In parallel, the appreciation of the importance of new levels of the metabolic regulatory hierarchy (such as protein-protein interaction) and the continuing development of global profiling technologies is generating a system-wide molecular data set of increasing resolution. In this review we will argue that the integration of these different aspects of metabolic research will bring about a step change in our understanding of the regulation of metabolic networks in plants.

Effects of tryptophan starvation on levels of the trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) and anti-TRAP regulatory protein and their influence on trp operon expression in Bacillus subtilis

The anti-TRAP protein (AT), encoded by the rtpA gene of Bacillus subtilis, can bind to and inhibit the tryptophan-activated trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP). AT binding can prevent TRAP from promoting transcription termination in the leader region of the trp operon, thereby increasing trp operon expression. We show here that AT levels continue to increase as tryptophan starvation becomes more severe, whereas the TRAP level remains relatively constant and independent of tryptophan starvation. Assuming that the functional form of AT is a trimer, we estimate that the ratios of AT trimers per TRAP molecule are 0.39 when the cells are grown under mild tryptophan starvation conditions, 0.83 under more severe starvation conditions, and approximately 2.0 when AT is expressed maximally. As the AT level is increased, a corresponding increase is observed in the anthranilate synthase level. When AT is expressed maximally, the anthranilate synthase level is about 70% of the level observed in a strain lacking TRAP. In a nutritional shift experiment where excess phenylalanine and tyrosine could potentially starve cells of tryptophan, both the AT level and anthranilate synthase activity were observed to increase. Expression of the trp operon is clearly influenced by the level of AT.

Bacillus subtilis TRAP binds to its RNA target by a 5' to 3' directional mechanism

TRAP is an 11 subunit RNA-binding protein that regulates expression of the Bacillus subtilis trpEDCFBA operon by transcription attenuation and translation control mechanisms. Tryptophan-activated TRAP acts by binding to a site in the 5'-untranslated leader region of trp mRNA consisting of 11 (G/U)AG repeats. We used mung bean nuclease footprinting to analyze the interaction of TRAP with several artificial binding sites composed of 11 GAG repeats in nucleic acids that lack secondary structure. Affinities for individual repeats within a binding site did not vary significantly. In contrast, the association rate constants were highest for repeats at the 5' end and lowest for those at the 3' end of all binding sites tested. These results indicate that TRAP binds to its RNA targets by first associating with one or more repeat at the 5' end of its binding site followed by wrapping the remainder of binding site around the protein in a 5' to 3' direction. This directional binding is novel among RNA-binding proteins. We suggest that this mechanism of binding is important for TRAP-mediated transcription attenuation control of the trp operon.

MicC, a second small-RNA regulator of Omp protein expression in Escherichia coli

In a previous bioinformatics-based search for novel small-RNA genes encoded by the Escherichia coli genome, we identified a region, IS063, located between the ompN and ydbK genes, that encodes an approximately 100-nucleotide small-RNA transcript. Here we show that the expression of this small RNA is increased at a low temperature and in minimal medium. Twenty-two nucleotides at the 5' end of this transcript have the potential to form base pairs with the leader sequence of the mRNA encoding the outer membrane protein OmpC. The deletion of IS063 increased the expression of an ompC-luc translational fusion 1.5- to 2-fold, and a 10-fold overexpression of the small RNA led to a 2- to 3-fold repression of the fusion. Deletion and overexpression of the IS063 RNA also resulted in increases and decreases, respectively, in OmpC protein levels. Taken together, these results suggest that IS063 is a regulator of OmpC expression; thus, the small RNA has been renamed MicC. The antisense regulation was further demonstrated by the finding that micC mutations were suppressed by compensatory mutations in the ompC mRNA. MicC was also shown to inhibit ribosome binding to the ompC mRNA leader in vitro and to require the Hfq RNA chaperone for its function. We suggest that the MicF and MicC RNAs act in conjunction with the EnvZ-OmpR two-component system to control the OmpF/OmpC protein ratio in response to a variety of environmental stimuli.

Bacterial gene regulation: from transcription attenuation to riboswitches and ribozymes

Since the discovery of transcription attenuation as a mechanism of bacterial gene regulation, a broad variety of attenuation mechanisms have been unveiled and analysed. In 2002, the first convincing experimental evidence for metabolite-mediated attenuation, termed riboswitch, was published. Subsequently, riboswitches have been found to be widespread among bacteria and are also used in some eukaryotes. A surprising new finding has been a riboswitch acting as a metabolite-responsive ribozyme - the first new naturally occurring ribozyme discovered since 1990.

Cellular levels of trp RNA-binding attenuation protein in Bacillus subtilis

Expression of the Bacillus subtilis trp genes is negatively regulated by an 11-subunit trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP), which is activated to bind RNA by binding l-tryptophan. We used Western blotting to estimate that there are 200 to 400 TRAP 11-mer molecules per cell in cells grown in either minimal or rich medium.

Regulation of transcription attenuation and translation initiation by allosteric control of an RNA-binding protein: the Bacillus subtilis TRAP protein

Tryptophan allosterically controls the 11-subunit trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) of Bacillus subtilis. When activated by tryptophan, TRAP binds to multiple trinucleotide repeats in target transcripts. TRAP is responsible for the decision to terminate transcription in the leader region of the trpEDCFBA operon or to allow transcription to proceed into the structural genes. TRAP also regulates translation of trpE by promoting formation of an RNA structure that prevents ribosome binding. In addition, bound TRAP regulates translation initiation of pabA, trpP and ycbK by directly blocking ribosome binding. The anti-TRAP protein inhibits TRAP activity by competing with RNA for the RNA binding surface of TRAP.

Interaction of the trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) with anti-TRAP

The trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) negatively regulates expression of the tryptophan biosynthesis genes of Bacillus subtilis. In the presence of tryptophan, TRAP is activated to bind to the 5'-leader region of the trp mRNA resulting in termination prior to the structural genes. In addition, accumulation of uncharged tRNA(Trp) induces synthesis of anti-TRAP (AT), which binds to TRAP and inhibits its function. Both of these proteins consist of oligomers of identical subunits. Here, we characterize the self-association of each of these proteins and the TRAP-AT interaction in free solution using equilibrium and velocity analytical ultracentrifugation. TRAP exists as a stable 11-mer in the absence and in the presence of tryptophan. Tryptophan binding induces a conformational change in TRAP. AT exists in a reversible equilibrium between trimer and dodecamer with an equilibrium constant of approximately 3 x 10(14)M(-3). About 20% of the trimer is incompetent to form dodecamer. The AT equilibrium is slow on the time-scale of the velocity experiment. Formation of TRAP-AT complexes occurs only in the presence of tryptophan. A complex containing one TRAP 11-mer and one AT 12-mer forms with high affinity. At higher ratios of TRAP:AT complexes containing two TRAP 11-mers and one AT 12-mer are detected. A model for the structure of the complex is proposed.

A protein-dependent riboswitch controlling ptsGHI operon expression in Bacillus subtilis: RNA structure rather than sequence provides interaction specificity

The Gram-positive soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis transports glucose by the phosphotransferase system. The genes for this system are encoded in the ptsGHI operon. The expression of this operon is controlled at the level of transcript elongation by a protein-dependent riboswitch. In the absence of glucose a transcriptional terminator prevents elongation into the structural genes. In the presence of glucose, the GlcT protein is activated and binds and stabilizes an alternative RNA structure that overlaps the terminator and prevents termination. In this work, we have studied the structural and sequence requirements for the two mutually exclusive RNA structures, the terminator and the RNA antiterminator (the RAT sequence). In both cases, the structure seems to be more important than the actual sequence. The number of paired and unpaired bases in the RAT sequence is essential for recognition by the antiterminator protein GlcT. In contrast, mutations of individual bases are well tolerated as long as the general structure of the RAT is not impaired. The introduction of one additional base in the RAT changed its structure and resulted in complete loss of interaction with GlcT. In contrast, this mutant RAT was efficiently recognized by a different B.subtilis antitermination protein, LicT.

Protein displacement by DExH/D "RNA helicases" without duplex unwinding

Members of the DExH/D superfamily of nucleic acid-activated nucleotide triphosphatases are essential for virtually all aspects of RNA metabolism, including pre-messenger RNA splicing, RNA interference, translation, and nucleocytoplasmic trafficking. Physiological substrates for these enzymes are thought to be regions of double-stranded RNA, because several DExH/D proteins catalyze strand separation in vitro. These "RNA helicases" can also disrupt RNA-protein interactions, but it is unclear whether this activity is coupled to duplex unwinding. Here we demonstrate that two unrelated DExH/D proteins catalyze protein displacement independently of duplex unwinding. Therefore, the essential functions of DExH/D proteins are not confined to RNA duplexes but can be exerted on a wide range of ribonucleoprotein substrates.

Features of a leader peptide coding region that regulate translation initiation for the anti-TRAP protein of B. subtilis

The rtpA gene of Bacillus subtilis encodes the Anti-TRAP protein, AT. AT can bind and inhibit the TRAP regulatory protein, preventing TRAP from promoting transcription termination in the trpEDCFBA operon leader region. AT synthesis is upregulated transcriptionally and translationally in response to the accumulation of uncharged tRNA(Trp). Here we analyze AT's translational regulation by rtpLP, a 10 residue leader peptide coding region located immediately preceding the rtpA Shine-Dalgarno sequence. Our findings suggest that, whenever the charged tRNA(Trp) level is sufficient to allow the ribosome translating rtpLP to reach its stop codon, it blocks the adjacent rtpA Shine-Dalgarno sequence, inhibiting AT synthesis. However, when there is a charged tRNA(Trp) deficiency, the translating ribosome presumably stalls at one of three adjacent rtpLP Trp codons. This stalling exposes the rtpA Shine-Dalgarno sequence, permitting AT synthesis. RNA-RNA pairing may also influence AT synthesis. Production of AT would inactivate TRAP, thereby increasing trp operon expression.

Tandem Mass Spectrometry Defines the Stoichiometry and Quaternary Structural Arrangement of Tryptophan Molecules in the Multiprotein Complex TRAP

We have used tandem mass spectrometry to examine the stoichiometry and binding sites of trp molecules in various assemblies of the protein complex TRAP. The results show that TRAP forms oligomers containing 11 and 12 subunits. MS/MS experiments show that up to 11 trp molecules bind to the 12-mer but that during gas-phase dissociation 5 then 6 trp molecules are released reflecting the different gas-phase stabilities of the partially ligated forms. At high trp concentrations, the protein assembles to form a double ring structure. Tandem mass spectrometry reveals that it is composed of 24 subunits with up to 22 molecules of trp. Dissociation of the complex reveals the same dissociation pathway as for the single ring structure, allowing us to propose a model for the assembly of the TRAP 24-mer based on the different environments of trp molecules. More generally, these results demonstrate the power of tandem mass spectrometry for defining the stoichiometry and quaternary structural arrangement of subunits and ligands within a 46-component multiprotein multiligand complex.

Recycling of a regulatory protein by degradation of the RNA to which it binds

When Bacillus subtilis is grown in the presence of excess tryptophan, transcription of the trp operon is regulated by binding of tryptophan-activated TRAP to trp leader RNA, which promotes transcription termination in the trp leader region. Transcriptome analysis of a B. subtilis strain lacking polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase; a 3'-to-5' exoribonuclease) revealed a striking overexpression of trp operon structural genes when the strain was grown in the presence of abundant tryptophan. Analysis of trp leader RNA in the PNPase(-) strain showed accumulation of a stable, TRAP-protected fragment of trp leader RNA. Loss of trp operon transcriptional regulation in the PNPase(-) strain was due to the inability of ribonucleases other than PNPase to degrade TRAP-bound leader RNA, resulting in the sequestration of limiting TRAP. Thus, in the case of the B. subtilis trp operon, specific ribonuclease degradation of RNA in an RNA-protein complex is required for recycling of an RNA-binding protein. Such a mechanism may be relevant to other systems in which limiting concentrations of an RNA-binding protein must keep pace with ongoing transcription.

Regulation of the tryptophan biosynthetic genes in Bacillus halodurans: common elements but different strategies than those used by Bacillus subtilis

In Bacillus subtilis, an RNA binding protein called TRAP regulates both transcription and translation of the tryptophan biosynthetic genes. Bacillus halodurans is an alkaliphilic Bacillus species that grows at high pHs. Previous studies of this bacterium have focused on mechanisms of adaptation for growth in alkaline environments. We have characterized the regulation of the tryptophan biosynthetic genes in B. halodurans and compared it to that in B. subtilis. B. halodurans encodes a TRAP protein with 71% sequence identity to the B. subtilis protein. Expression of anthranilate synthetase, the first enzyme in the pathway to tryptophan, is regulated significantly less in B. halodurans than in B. subtilis. Examination of the control of the B. halodurans trpEDCFBA operon both in vivo and in vitro shows that only transcription is regulated, whereas in B. subtilis both transcription of the operon and translation of trpE are controlled. The attenuation mechanism that controls transcription in B. halodurans is similar to that in B. subtilis, but there are some differences in the predicted RNA secondary structures in the B. halodurans trp leader region, including the presence of a potential anti-antiterminator structure. Translation of trpG, which is within the folate operon in both bacilli, is regulated similarly in the two species.

The trp RNA-binding attenuation protein of Bacillus subtilis regulates translation of the tryptophan transport gene trpP (yhaG) by blocking ribosome binding

Expression of the Bacillus subtilis tryptophan biosynthetic genes (trpEDCFBA and pabA [trpG]) is regulated in response to tryptophan by TRAP, the trp RNA-binding attenuation protein. TRAP-mediated regulation of the tryptophan biosynthetic genes includes a transcription attenuation and two distinct translation control mechanisms. TRAP also regulates translation of trpP (yhaG), a single-gene operon that encodes a putative tryptophan transporter. Its translation initiation region contains triplet repeats typical of TRAP-regulated mRNAs. We found that regulation of trpP and pabA is unaltered in a rho mutant strain. Results from filter binding and gel mobility shift assays demonstrated that TRAP binds specifically to a segment of the trpP transcript that includes the untranslated leader and translation initiation region. While the affinities of TRAP for the trpP and pabA transcripts are similar, TRAP-mediated translation control of trpP is much more extensive than for pabA. RNA footprinting revealed that the trpP TRAP binding site consists of nine triplet repeats (five GAG, three UAG, and one AAG) that surround and overlap the trpP Shine-Dalgarno (S-D) sequence and translation start codon. Results from toeprint and RNA-directed cell-free translation experiments indicated that tryptophan-activated TRAP inhibits TrpP synthesis by preventing binding of a 30S ribosomal subunit. Taken together, our results establish that TRAP regulates translation of trpP by blocking ribosome binding. Thus, TRAP coordinately regulates tryptophan synthesis and transport by three distinct mechanisms: attenuation transcription of the trpEDCFBA operon, promoting formation of the trpE S-D blocking hairpin, and blocking ribosome binding to the pabA and trpP transcripts.

Analysis of HutP-dependent transcription antitermination in the Bacillus subtilis hut operon: identification of HutP binding sites on hut antiterminator RNA and the involvement of the N-terminus of HutP in binding of HutP to the antiterminator RNA

We investigated HutP-dependent transcription antitermination of the Bacillus subtilis hut operon. In vitro transcription assays with the B. subtilissigmaA-containing RNA polymerase indicated that HutP inhibits transcription termination at the internal terminator by binding to the antiterminator on hut mRNA in the presence of histidine. Ethylnitrosourea modification interference assays and mutational analyses of the interference sites showed that interaction of HutP with a region containing three UAG trinucleotide sequences, which is located on top of the antiterminator structure, is critical for hut antitermination in vivo. Results from kinetic analysis of binding of HutP to RNA containing various portions of the antiterminator sequences indicated that secondary structure is required for binding of HutP to the region containing three UAG triplets in the antiterminator. The in vivo HutP antiterminator activity was reduced by the mutations in the N-terminal region of HutP. The HutP variants with H4A, R7A, I9A and Q26A mutations exhibited reduced binding affinities to the antiterminator RNA in vitro. A 25-mer peptide consisting of amino acid residues 2-26 of HutP bound to the antiterminator RNA. These results indicated that the N-terminus of HutP is involved in binding of HutP to the antiterminator RNA.

Characterization of a trp RNA-binding Attenuation Protein (TRAP) Mutant with Tryptophan Independent RNA Binding Activity

TRAP (trp RNA-binding attenuation protein) is an 11 subunit RNA-binding protein that regulates expression of genes involved in tryptophan metabolism (trp) in Bacillus subtilis in response to changes in intracellular tryptophan concentration. When activated by binding up to 11 tryptophan residues, TRAP binds to the mRNAs of several trp genes and down-regulates their expression. Recently, a TRAP mutant was found that binds RNA in the absence of tryptophan. In this mutant protein, Thr30, which is part of the tryptophan-binding site, is replaced with Val (T30V). We have compared the RNA-binding properties of T30V and wild-type (WT) TRAP, as well as of a series of hetero-11-mers containing mixtures of WT and T30V TRAP subunits. The most significant difference between the interaction of T30V and WT TRAP with RNA is that the affinity of T30V TRAP is more dependent on ionic strength. Analysis of the hetero-11-mers allowed us to examine how subunits interact within an 11-mer with regard to binding to tryptophan or RNA. Our data suggest that individual subunits retain properties similar to those observed when they are in homo-11-mers and that individual G/UAG triplets within the RNA can bind to TRAP differently.