Spermidine targets GGA-rich small RNAs for virulence regulation

Le résumé fourni par la source

Spermidine (SPD), a polyamine essential for various biological processes, has long been recognized as a signaling molecule. Yet, its specific molecular targets and mechanisms of action remain elusive. In this study, we uncover a previously unknown mechanism whereby SPD selectively binds to small regulatory RNAs, driving their degradation and subsequently modulating virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa . We identified GGA-rich SPD-binding RNA motifs in RsmZ and RsmY, two small RNA regulators of the type III secretion system (T3SS) and quorum sensing pathways and demonstrated a motif-dependent interaction with SPD. SPD binding alters the structural properties of these RNAs in a manner associated with reduced RNA stability, promoting their degradation, at least in part, through the CafA endonuclease. In vivo , this process enhances T3SS activity and suppresses quorum sensing, thereby facilitating the acute infection of P. aeruginosa . These findings highlight a previously unrecognized regulatory role of polyamine-small RNA interactions in bacterial virulence, offering potential targets for therapeutic interventions.

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