Title:Structure and Function of RNase AS: A Novel Virulence Factor From Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Volume: 22
Issue: 14
Author(s): Maria Romano, Flavia Squeglia and Rita Berisio
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Function, ribonucleases, structure, tuberculosis.
Abstract: The 3′-ends of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic RNA can be polyadenylated and the effect of
polyadenylation is known to increase the stability of transcripts in eukaryotes, whereas it promotes instability
in prokaryotes. RNAs are considered as key effectors of virulence mechanisms, since they are directly
involved in regulatory pathways in pathogenic bacteria. Deadenylation of RNA is thus an important control
point and rate-limiting step of its turnover. RNase AS is a novel identified protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis,
which dramatically hampers mycobacterial virulence in vivo, with a mechanism which is still to be
fully defined. Phylogenetic analysis identifies orthologs of RNase AS in all mycobacteria. However, functional data only
recently clarified that RNase AS is an exo-ribonuclease, which is highly specific in degrading polyadenylate sequences of
RNA. This Review summarizes the current knowledge on structure and function of RNase AS and underscores its role in
the process of RNA maturation. An overall description of all mycobacterial ribonucleases hitherto characterized is also
provided.
