Hfq protein

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The Hfq protein was discovered in 1968 as an E. coli host factor that was essential for replication of the bacteriophage Qβ.[1] It is found to be involved in a variety of RNA modification processes. It has been shown that Hfq targets mRNA transcripts for degradation. The protein is related to the Sm proteins found in the spliceosome. Six copies of the Hfq protein form a hexagonal ring.[2] A number of small bacterial RNAs have been shown to bind to Hfq:[3]

Known RNA targets
RydC RNA Qrr RNA
OxyS RNA Spot 42 RNA
RyeB RNA CyaR RNA
RyhB RNA DicF RNA
GcvB RNA MicF RNA
MicC RNA RprA RNA
DsrA RNA MicA RNA / SraD RNA
SraE RNA / OmrB RNA / RygB RNA SraJ RNA
SraH RNA GadY RNA
SgrS RNA SroC RNA
RybB RNA RybB
RyeF MicA
OmrA RNA / RygA RNA

Most of these RNAs share a similar structure composed of three stem-loops.

[edit] References

  1. ^ August JT, Eoyang L, De Fernandez MT, et al (1970). "Phage-specific and host proteins in the replication of bacteriophage RNA". Fed. Proc. 29 (3): 1170–5. PMID 4315363. 
  2. ^ Sauter C, Basquin J, Suck D (2003). "Sm-like proteins in Eubacteria: the crystal structure of the Hfq protein from Escherichia coli". Nucleic Acids Res. 31 (14): 4091–8. PMID 12853626. 
  3. ^ Zhang A, Wassarman KM, Rosenow C, Tjaden BC, Storz G, Gottesman S (2003). "Global analysis of small RNA and mRNA targets of Hfq". Mol. Microbiol. 50 (4): 1111–24. PMID 14622403. 
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