sRNA-Xcc1 (small RNA identified from ''Xanthomonas campestris'' pv. ''campestris'') is a family of trans-acting

non-coding RNA A non-coding RNA (ncRNA) is a functional RNA molecule that is not Translation (genetics), translated into a protein. The DNA sequence from which a functional non-coding RNA is transcribed is often called an RNA gene. Abundant and functionally imp ...

(also known as small RNA). Homologs of sRNA-Xcc1 are found in a few bacterial strains belonging to alpha-proteobacteria, beta-proteobacteria, gamma-proteobacteria, and delta-proteobacteria. In ''Xanthomonas'' ''campestris'' pv. ''campestris'', sRNA-Xcc1 is encoded by an

integron Integrons are genetic mechanisms that allow bacteria to adapt and evolve rapidly through the stockpiling and expression of new genes. These genes are embedded in a specific genetic structure called gene cassette (a term that is lately changing to i ...

gene cassette and is under the positive control of the virulence regulators HrpG and HrpX.

Origin and phylogenetic distribution

sRNA-Xcc1 is encoded by a gene cassette in the integron of ''Xanthomonas campestris'' pv. ''campestris'' and homologs of ''sRNA-Xcc1'' are frequently found in integron gene cassettes cloned from uncultured bacterium, it is possible that sRNA-Xcc1 is originally captured by integrons from natural environments. ''sRNA-Xcc1'' homologs are found in a few taxonomically far related strains across alpha-, beta- and gamma-proteobacteria but not in close related bacteria, implying that sRNA-Xcc1 is transferred via

horizontal gene transfer Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) or lateral gene transfer (LGT) is the movement of genetic material between organisms other than by the ("vertical") transmission of DNA from parent to offspring (reproduction). HGT is an important factor in the e ...

(HGT). sRNA-Xcc1 homologous gene are found located on Tn5542, a

transposon A transposable element (TE), also transposon, or jumping gene, is a type of mobile genetic element, a nucleic acid sequence in DNA that can change its position within a genome. The discovery of mobile genetic elements earned Barbara McClinto ...

carried by the

plasmid A plasmid is a small, extrachromosomal DNA molecule within a cell that is physically separated from chromosomal DNA and can replicate independently. They are most commonly found as small circular, double-stranded DNA molecules in bacteria and ...

pHMT112, indicating that the horizontal transfer of sRNA-Xcc1 is realized by means of transposons and/or plasmids.

Potential biological function

The expression of sRNA-Xcc1 is under the positive control of the two important

virulence Virulence is a pathogen's or microorganism's ability to cause damage to a host. In most cases, especially in animal systems, virulence refers to the degree of damage caused by a microbe to its host. The pathogenicity of an organism—its abili ...

regulators Regulator may refer to: Technology * Regulator (automatic control), a device that maintains a designated characteristic, as in: ** Battery regulator ** Pressure regulator ** Diving regulator ** Voltage regulator * Regulator (sewer), a control de ...

HrpG and HrpX of ''Xanthomonas campestris'' pv. ''campestris'', indicating that sRNA-Xcc1 may be involved in the

pathogenesis In pathology, pathogenesis is the process by which a disease or disorder develops. It can include factors which contribute not only to the onset of the disease or disorder, but also to its progression and maintenance. The word comes . Descript ...

of the

pathogen In biology, a pathogen (, "suffering", "passion" and , "producer of"), in the oldest and broadest sense, is any organism or agent that can produce disease. A pathogen may also be referred to as an infectious agent, or simply a Germ theory of d ...

References

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Phylogenetic diagrams

File:Multiple_alignment_and_the_consensus_secondary_structure_model_of_the_sRNA-Xcc1_homologs.jpg, Multiple alignment and the consensus secondary structure model of the sRNA-Xcc1 homologs. Multiple alignment was done by using ClustalW program and the consensus secondary structure was predicted based on the multiple alignment using RNAalifold program. The conserved sequence motif ‘AUACAAnACCC’ was boxed. File:The_thylogenetic_tree_of_sRNA-Xcc1_homologs_based_on_multiple_alignments.jpg, The phylogenetic tree of sRNA-Xcc1 homologs based on multiple alignments. Symbols on the right hand side of the name of bacterial strain indicate the class of the species that holds the sRNA-Xcc1 homolog, and the place where the homolog located. RNA