The Study of the Interaction between the sRNA C.0293 and Two Proteins – Hfq and HU

Abstract

Small, noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) are found in bacteria and have similar analogues in eukaryotic cells. These specific RNAs are generally involved in gene regulation during cellular stress, such as acidic environments and cell starvation. Many small, noncoding RNAs interact with proteins. It is through interactions with proteins and other RNAs that these sRNAs are able to allow the cell to deal with stress. Several procedures were performed in order for the interaction between the sRNA C.0293 and the two proteins Hfq and HU to be examined, including the transformation of cells and several purification techniques. The two HU subunits, HUα and HUβ, were successfully purified, and the protein Hfq is on its way towards being purified. The binding assays, whether the sRNA and respective protein bind, has stayed mostly inconclusive. Because of the lack of conclusive results, further work and different approaches could be used on this project to obtain a conclusion.