The roles of small RNAs: insights from bacterial quorum sensing
1 Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Bernard Katz Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
2 Institute of Structuraland Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London,Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Abstract

Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) mainly played auxiliary roles in regulations of genetic processes while recent explorations into small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) in bacteria have broadened the scope of RNAs studies in these processes. sRNAs have been demonstrated to be involved in various genetic processes and to regulate a variety of bacterial physiologies. Comparatively, quorum sensing (QS) is a mature bacterial cell signaling system which regulates bacteria physiologies as well. Prokaryotic sRNAs studies in the status quo have revealed an emerging picture of trans-kingdom signaling regulation and increasing investigations have demonstrated the feasibility of inter-kingdom signaling as the consequence of QS. We therefore review such phenomena and their similarities to investigate the potential of prokaryote-sourced interkingdom signaling and regulation.

Keywords

Small RNA; Quorum sensing; Inter-kingdom communication; Prokaryotes; Eukaryotes; Extracellular microvesicles

Preview