RivX sRNA is a non-coding RNA molecule involved in the interface between two key regulators of virulence in the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptoccus, also known as GAS): the CovR/S system[1] and Mga regulator.[2] This RNA, along with its downstream protein-coding geneRivR, are the first discovered links between these two important regulation networks.[2] An extra protein linking the two pathways, TrxR, was described a year later.[3] The adjoining of these two pathways could allow a consistently high virulence of S. pyogenes despite a variety of environmental conditions.[2]
RivX is thought to be co-transcribed with RivR mRNA before post-transcriptional processing releases the sRNA. It was found to be a non-coding transcript through site-directed mutagenesis experimentation.[2]
In total, the GAS genome is now predicted to encode 75 total sRNAs, a number approximately equal to the number of transcription factors encoded by the genome, which shows the importance of RNA regulation in GAS.[4]
References
^Churchward G (April 2007). "The two faces of Janus: virulence gene regulation by CovR/S in group A streptococci". Molecular Microbiology. 64 (1): 34–41. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2958.2007.05649.x. PMID17376070.
^ abcdRoberts SA, Scott JR (December 2007). "RivR and the small RNA RivX: the missing links between the CovR regulatory cascade and the Mga regulon". Molecular Microbiology. 66 (6): 1506–1522. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2958.2007.06015.x. PMID18005100.
