Correction: Functional implications of hexameric assembly of RraA proteins from Vibrio vulnificus.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190064.].

Functional implications of hexameric assembly of RraA proteins from Vibrio vulnificus.

RNase E has a pivotal role in the degradation and processing of RNAs in Escherichia coli, and protein inhibitors RraA and RraB control its enzymatic activity. The halophilic pathogenic bacterium Vibrio vulnificus also expresses orthologs of RNase E and RraA-RNase EV, RraAV1, and RraAV2 (herein renamed as VvRNase E, VvRraA1, and VvRraA2). A previous study showed that VvRraA1 actively inhibits the ribonucleolytic activity of VvRNase E by interacting with the C-terminal region of VvRNase E. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the effect of VvRraA1 on the ribonucleolytic activity of VvRNase E has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we report that the oligomer formation of VvRraA proteins affects binding efficiency to VvRNase E as well as inhibitory activity on VvRNase E action. The hexameric structure of VvRraA1 was converted to lower oligomeric forms when the Cys 9 residue was substituted with an Asp residue (VvRraA1-C9D), showing decreased inhibitory activity of VvRraA1 on VvRNase E in vivo. These results indicated that the intermolecular disulfide linkage contributed critically to the hexamerization of VvRraA1 for its proper function. On the contrary, the VvRraA2 that existed in a trimeric state did not bind to or inhibit VvRNase E. An in vitro cleavage assay further showed the reduced inhibitory effect of VvRraA-C9D on VvRNase E activity compared to wild-type VvRraA1. These findings provide insight into how VvRraA proteins can regulate VvRNase E action on its substrate RNA in V. vulnificus. In addition, based on structural and functional comparison of RraA homologs, we suggest that hexameric assembly of RraA homologs may well be required for their action on RNase E-like proteins.

Functional Analysis of Vibrio vulnificus Orthologs of Escherichia coli RraA and RNase E.

RNase E plays an important role in the degradation and processing of RNA in Escherichia coli. The enzymatic activity of RNase E is controlled by the protein inhibitors RraA and RraB. The marine pathogenic bacterium Vibrio vulnificus also contains homologs of RNase E and RraA, designated as RNase EV, RraAV1, and RraAV2. Here, we report that RraAV1 actively inhibits the enzymatic activity of RNase EV in vivo and in vitro by interacting with the C-terminal domain of RNase EV. Coexpression of RraAV1 reduced ribonucleolytic activity in the cells overproducing RNase EV and consequently restored normal growth of these cells. An in vitro cleavage assay further demonstrated that RraAV1 efficiently inhibits the ribonucleolytic activity of RNase EV on BR10 + hpT, a synthetic oligonucleotide containing the RNase E cleavage site of RNA I. Our findings suggest that RraAV1 plays an active role in RNase EV-mediated RNA cleavage in V. vulnificus.