This study shows that endogenous bacterial non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) can affect gene expression in animals that eat the bacteria. Liu and colleagues showed that the Escherichia coli ncRNAs OxyS and DsrA suppress the expression of two Caenorhabditis elegans genes — che-2 and F42G9.6, respectively — when bacteria are ingested by worms that express these ncRNAs. These effects on gene expression have resulting effects on worm physiology, resulting in impaired chemosensation in the case of che-2 and decreased lifespan in the case of F42G9.6.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Liu, H. et al. Escherichia coli noncoding RNAs can affect gene expression and physiology of Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature Commun. 3, 1073 (2012)
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Flintoft, L. Bacterial ncRNAs alter gene expression in worms. Nat Rev Genet 13, 758 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg3363
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg3363
