The stability and function of sRNAs are often determined by specialized RNA-binding proteins called «RNA chaperones» which can melt RNA secondary structure. Recently has been found ProQ/FinO domain constitute a new class of RNA chaperones that can play key roles in post-transcriptional gene regulation. To study molecular mechanisms of the RNA-protein interactions carried out by this class of proteins, ProQ from Escherichia coli has been chosen. We have shown that the protein can specifically interact with rdlD sRNA and its N- and C-terminal domains possess different affinity to the sRNA.
sRNAs, RNA chaperones, translation regulation
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