Small cytoplasmic RNA of Bacillus subtilis: functional relationship with human signal recognition particle 7S RNA and Escherichia coli 4.5S RNA.

Small cytoplasmic RNA (scRNA; 271 nucleotides) is an abundant and stable RNA of the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis. To investigate the function of scRNA in B. subtilis cells, we developed a strain that is dependent on isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside for scRNA synthesis by fusing the chromosomal scr locus with the spac-1 promoter by homologous recombination. Depletion of the inducer leads to a loss of scRNA synthesis, defects in protein synthesis and production of alpha-amylase and beta-lactamase, and eventual cell death. The loss of the scRNA gene in B. subtilis can be complemented by the introduction of human signal recognition particle 7S RNA, which is considered to be involved in protein transport, or Escherichia coli 4.5S RNA. These results provide further evidence for a functional relationship between B. subtilis scRNA, human signal recognition particle 7S RNA, and E. coli 4.5S RNA.