Cells adapt to shifts in their environment by remodeling transcription. Measuring changes in transcription at the genome scale is now routine, but defining the functional significance of individual genes within large gene expression datasets remains a major challenge. We applied a network-based algorithm to interrogate publicly available gene expression data to predict genes that serve major functional roles in Caulobacter crescentus stress survival. This approach identified GsrN, a conserved small RNA that is directly activated by the general stress sigma factor, σT, and functions as a potent post-transcriptional regulator of survival across distinct conditions including osmotic and oxidative stress. Under hydrogen peroxide stress, GsrN protects cells by base pairing with the leader of katG mRNA and activating expression of KatG catalase/peroxidase protein. We conclude that GsrN convenes a post-transcriptional layer of gene expression that serves a central functional role in Caulobacter stress physiology.

中文翻译：

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基因网络分析确定了细胞应激存活的中心转录后调节因子

细胞通过重塑转录来适应环境的变化。在基因组尺度上测量转录的变化现在是常规的，但在大型基因表达数据集中定义单个基因的功能意义仍然是一个重大挑战。我们应用基于网络的算法来查询公开可用的基因表达数据，以预测在新月柄杆菌应激存活中发挥主要功能作用的基因。这种方法鉴定了 GsrN，这是一种保守的小 RNA，由一般应激 σ 因子 σT 直接激活，并作为有效的转录后调节剂在不同条件下（包括渗透和氧化应激）存活。在过氧化氢压力下，GsrN 通过与 katG mRNA 的前导碱基配对并激活 KatG 过氧化氢酶/过氧化物酶蛋白的表达来保护细胞。我们得出结论，GsrN 召集了一个转录后的基因表达层，在 Caulobacter 应激生理学中起核心功能作用。