The PrrF sRNAs are distinct from many iron-responsive bacterial sRNAs in that two nearly identical PrrF RNAs (PrrF1 and PrrF2) are encoded in tandem on the P. aeruginosa chromosome. This arrangement allows for the expression of an additional, longer RNA, designated PrrH, which is responsive to heme as well as iron. However, the mechanism by which heme regulates PrrH expression remains unknown. Louise is studying how in vivo interactions of the PrrF and PrrH sRNAs with certain proteins may contribute to this regulation. Previous crosslinking studies in our lab identified several proteins that putatively interact with the PrrF and PrrH sRNAs in vivo. Louise is using a variety of biochemical and biophysical tools to characterize the interactions of these proteins with the PrrF and PrrH sRNAs. In addition, Louise has shown that iron and the prrF locus contribute to antimicrobial resistance of P. aeruginosa biofilms, presenting a novel role for these small RNAs in virulence.
Publications:
Djapgne L, Panja S, Brewer LK, Gans J, Kane MA, Woodson SA, Oglesby-Sherrouse AG. (2018) The Pseudomonas aeruginosa PrrF1 and PrrF2 small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) promote 2-alkyl-4-quinolone production through redundant regulation of the antR mRNA. Journal of Bacteriology. In press.
Gans J, Osborne J, Cheng J, Djapgne L, Oglesby-Sherrouse AG. (2018) Sequence-specific affinity chromatography of bacterial small regulatory RNA-binding proteins from bacterial cells. Methods in Molecular Biology 1737:341-350.
Reinhart AA, Powell DA, Nguyen AT, O’Neill M, Djapgne L, Wilks A, Ernst RK, Oglesby-Sherrouse AG. (2015) The prrF-encoded small regulatory RNAs are required for iron homeostasis and virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Infection and Immunity 83(3):863-875.
Osborne J*, Djapgne L*, Tran B, Goo YA, Oglesby-Sherrouse AG. (2014) A method for in vivo identification of bacterial small RNA binding proteins. Microbiology Open. 3(6):950-60.
Oglesby-Sherrouse AG, Djapgne L, Nguyen AT, Vasil AI, Vasil ML. (2014) The complex interplay of iron, biofilm formation, and mucoidy affecting antimicrobial resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pathogens and Disease 70(3):307-20.
*Contributed equally.
The Oglesby Lab 