Mutational analysis of the csgD mRNA leader: search for a mode of regulation

Abstract: The CsgD protein is the master regulator of a pathway leading to the formation of curli, in essence regulating the switch between a motile and a sessile lifestyle for bacteria. The 5’-UTR region of the csgD mRNA is a hotspot for multiple regulatory small RNAs (sRNA) involved in a complex regulatory network. Even though it is previously known how the interaction takes place it is unknown how sRNA binding affects the translational activity. In order to suggest a mode of regulation a mutational assay was performed by making changes in the csgD 5’-UTR and investigate what the translational effects were. Mutations in different regions are shown to affect the translation levels in various ways.