Grant: Project Grant

Bacterial small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are the most abundant class of post-transcriptional regulators and have been well studied in Gram-negative bacteria. In contrast, little is known about the functions and mechanisms of sRNAs in high GC Gram-positive bacteria, which include the medically important Mycobacterium and Streptomyces. We have identified a novel RNA binding protein that likely plays a critical role in stabilizing sRNA-mRNA interactions in these organisms. We plan to characterize the interaction of this protein with sRNAs and mRNAs, map the sRNA interactome, and determine the role of sRNAs in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the leading bacterial pathogen. Outcome from our studies will fill the large knowledge gap and may lead to novel therapeutic intervention.