Lactis-plasmid RNA motif
Encyclopedia
The lactis-plasmid RNA motif is a conserved RNA
structure identified by bioinformatics
. The RNAs are restricted to lactic acid bacteria
, and are especially common in Lactococcus lactis
. They typically lie near to repB genes, and are almost found in plasmid
s. This data suggested that lactis-plasmid RNAs participate in the control of plasmid abundance. However, many of the plasmids that carry lactis-plasmid RNAs also carry ctRNA
-pND324 RNAs, which are involved in plasmid copy count regulation. Therefore lactis-plasmid RNAs might have a different function.
RNA
Ribonucleic acid , or RNA, is one of the three major macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life....
structure identified by bioinformatics
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to the field of biology and medicine. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms, databases and information systems, web technologies, artificial intelligence and soft computing, information and computation theory, software...
. The RNAs are restricted to lactic acid bacteria
Lactic acid bacteria
The lactic acid bacteria comprise a clade of Gram-positive, low-GC, acid-tolerant, generally non-sporulating, non-respiring rod or cocci that are associated by their common metabolic and physiological characteristics. These bacteria, usually found in decomposing plants and lactic products, produce...
, and are especially common in Lactococcus lactis
Lactococcus lactis
Lactococcus lactis is a Gram-positive bacterium used extensively in the production of buttermilk and cheese, but has recently also become famous as the first genetically modified organism to be used alive for the treatment of human disease. L...
. They typically lie near to repB genes, and are almost found in plasmid
Plasmid
In microbiology and genetics, a plasmid is a DNA molecule that is separate from, and can replicate independently of, the chromosomal DNA. They are double-stranded and, in many cases, circular...
s. This data suggested that lactis-plasmid RNAs participate in the control of plasmid abundance. However, many of the plasmids that carry lactis-plasmid RNAs also carry ctRNA
CtRNA
In molecular biology ctRNA is a plasmid encoded noncoding RNA that binds to the mRNA of repB and causes translational inhibition.ctRNA is encoded by plasmids and functions in rolling circle replication to maintain a low copy number...
-pND324 RNAs, which are involved in plasmid copy count regulation. Therefore lactis-plasmid RNAs might have a different function.