细菌非编码 RNA 分子伴侣蛋白 Hfq 的结构、功能及其应用

Bacterial Non-Coding RNA Chaperone Hfq: Structure, Function and Application

摘要

细菌非编码 RNA 分子伴侣蛋白 Hfq (Host factor for phage Qβ replication) 是一种 RNA 结合蛋白，被认为是促进细胞 RNA-RNA 相互作用的主要核酸调节因子，在很多细菌中广泛存在。菌体中的部分非编码小 RNA (sRNA) 发挥转录后调控基因表达需要分子伴侣 Hfq 的参与，Hfq 可以促进 sRNA 与其目的 mRNA 的互补配对，进而影响翻译的进行或者 mRNA 的稳定性。尽管目前有关 Hfq 的研究在近些年有了很多进展，但其具体识别机制和动态调控过程仍不完全清楚，Hfq 与 sRNA 及 mRNA 相互作用的分子机制仍需进一步解析。本文结合国内外研究前沿以及相关研究工作整理描述了 Hfq 的结构特征、与 sRNA 的协同作用机制、靶标 mRNA 分子捕获鉴定方法以及其生物学功能。这将有助于更全面地理解 Hfq 在细菌基因表达调控网络中的重要性，尤其是在代谢和毒力调控中的重要作用。

Abstract

The bacterial RNA chaperone protein Hfq (Host factor for phage Qβ replication) is a conserved RNA-binding protein that serves as a central regulator of RNA-RNA interactions and is ubiquitously conserved across diverse bacterial species. A subset of small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) in bacteria rely on Hfq to execute their post-transcriptional regulatory functions and Hfq facilitates base-pairing complementarity between sRNAs and their target mRNAs, thereby modulating translational activity or mRNA stability. Although studies on Hfq have advanced considerably in recent years, its precise recognition mechanisms and dynamic regulatory processes remain obscure. Further elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying Hfq’s interactions with sRNA and target mRNA is needed. This review synthesizes current research advances to comprehensively delineate the structural characteristics of Hfq, its cooperative mechanisms with sRNA, methodologies for capturing and identifying target mRNA, and its multifaceted biological roles, which facilitate understanding of the regulatory networks controlled by Hfq, especially in bacterial metabolism and virulence regulation.

关键词

Hfq / 非编码小 RNA / 转录后调控 / mRNA / 生物应用

Key words

Hfq / small non-coding RNA / post-transcriptional regulation / mRNA / biological application

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基金资助

国家重点研发计划政府间国际科技创新合作专项(2022YFE0101200)

国家现代农业产业技术体系项目(CARS-47)