In molecular biology, VR-RNA is a small RNA produced by Clostridium perfringens. It functions as a regulator of the two-component VirR/VirS system.
VR-RNA regulates numerous genes including: Toxin-encoding genes plc, colA and cpb2 Other virulence-related genes such as hyaluronidases and sialidase Possible collagen adhesin gene () Extracellular nuclease, cadA Enzymes such as Acid phosphatase, Heme oxygenase HemO and N-acetylglucosaminidases Genes encoding transport proteins Genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism Genes encoding transport proteins Arginine deiminase (ADI) pathway genes Genes involved in citrate metabolism
VR-RNA regulates the toxin colA (collagenase) by base-pairing to colA mRNA, the 3′ end of VR-RNA base-pairs to a region in the 5′UTR of the colA mRNA. This induces cleavage of the colA mRNA in the 5′ UTR and leads to stabilisation of the mRNA and increased translation.
See also Bacterial small RNA
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