The global RNA-RNA interactome of unveils a small RNA regulator of cell division.

The ubiquitous RNA chaperone Hfq is involved in the regulation of key biological processes in many species across the bacterial kingdom. In the opportunistic human pathogen , deletion of the gene affects the global transcriptome, virulence, and stress resistance; however, the ligands of the major RNA-binding protein in this species have remained elusive. In this study, we have combined transcriptomic, co-immunoprecipitation, and global RNA interactome analyses to compile an inventory of conserved and species-specific RNAs bound by Hfq and to monitor Hfq-mediated RNA-RNA interactions.