[Seminar] Dynamic ribonucleoprotein complexes in the control of bacterial gene expression

Title: Dynamic ribonucleoprotein complexes in the control of bacterial gene expression

Speaker: Ben Luisi

From: University of Cambridge (UK), Department of Biochemistry

Abstract: The lifetime of transcripts is a key aspect of the control of gene expression in all domains of life. In representative bacterial species, the turnover and processing of transcripts is mediated by multi-enzyme assemblies, referred to as the RNA degradosome. These machines can recruit small regulatory RNAs for targeted action on defined transcripts, and their combined actions generate complex, inter-connected regulatory networks that underpin rapid responses to environmental changes and stresses, including exposure to antibiotics. RNA chaperones play a key role in the post-transcriptional control of gene expression mediated by the degradosome. A model will be described proposing how chaperones work in conjunction with regulatory RNAs and the degradosome to guide action on targeted transcripts and may help in early transcript surveillance. The model envisages a highly dynamic process that acts cooperatively, through allosteric conformational switching and higher-order clustering, to achieve robust RNA-mediated gene regulation.

Short profile: Ben Luisi is a Professor at the University of Cambridge (UK), and a leading structural biologist studying large macromolecular complexes. His research integrates structural and biochemical approaches, including cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography, to elucidate RNA–protein assemblies that control post-transcriptional gene regulation, as well as bacterial transport systems such as multidrug efflux pumps. His work bridges molecular structure and biological function.

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