Evolution of small guide RNA genes in hyperthermophilic archaea

Lennart Randau

Prokaryotic Small RNA Biology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany.

Abstract

Profiling the RNA production in hyperthermophilic archaea revealed an abundance of small RNA–guided processes near the upper temperature limit of life. Archaea utilize the base-pairing ability of RNA guide sequences to target ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, messenger RNAs, and viral genomes. Cellular processes that are guided by small RNAs include the modification of RNA molecules, trans-splicing, gene regulation, and RNA and DNA degradation. Here, a brief overview of our knowledge on small guide RNA genes in archaeal genomes is provided and examples of their putative roles in genome evolution are described.

Keywords: CRISPR;C/D box sRNAs;transfer RNA fragments;virus defense;genome rearrangements;archaea.