Arginine-Rich Small Proteins with a Domain of Unknown Function, DUF1127, Play a Role in Phosphate and Carbon Metabolism of Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

In any given organism, approximately one-third of all proteins have a yet-unknown function. A widely distributed domain of unknown function is DUF1127. Approximately 17,000 proteins with such an arginine-rich domain are found in 4,000 bacteria.

Design of a Temperature-Responsive Transcription Terminator.

RNA structures regulate various steps in gene expression. Transcription in bacteria is typically terminated by stable hairpin structures. Translation initiation can be modulated by metabolite- or temperature-sensitive RNA structures, called riboswitches or RNA thermometers (RNATs), respectively.