page_title: Pxr sRNA
hierarchical_section_title: Pxr sRNA
caption_attribution_description: Secondary structure of Pxr sRNA
context_page_description: Pxr sRNA is a regulatory RNA which downregulates genes responsible for the formation of fruiting bodies in Myxococcus xanthus. Fruiting bodies are aggregations of myxobacteria formed when nutrients are scarce, the fruiting bodies permit a small number of the aggregated colony to transform into stress-resistant spores.
  Pxr exists in two forms: Pxr-L and Pxr-S which is shorter. The short form was found to be expressed in cells during growth but is rapidly repressed during starvation. This finding implies that Pxr-S is specifically responsible for inhibiting the fruiting body development during cell growth when nutrients are abundant.
  Pxr homologs have only been found in one other taxon, namely Stigmatella aurantiaca. Homologs were not found in any other myxobacteria which suggests the Pxr RNA gene may have a recent evolutionary origin in the sub-clade Myxococcales.
  PxR sRNA folds into 3 steam loops. SL1 and SL 2 are highly conserved across mycobacteria and SL1 is necessary for the regulatory function. However, a conserved eight-base-pair segment of the variable SL3 is necessary for PxR accumulation and multicellular development.
context_section_description: Pxr sRNA is a regulatory RNA which downregulates genes responsible for the formation of fruiting bodies in Myxococcus xanthus. Fruiting bodies are aggregations of myxobacteria formed when nutrients are scarce, the fruiting bodies permit a small number of the aggregated colony to transform into stress-resistant spores.
  Pxr exists in two forms: Pxr-L (a long form) and Pxr-S which is shorter. The short form was found to be expressed in cells during growth but is rapidly repressed during starvation. This finding implies that Pxr-S is specifically responsible for inhibiting the fruiting body development during cell growth when nutrients are abundant.
  Pxr homologs have only been found in one other taxon, namely Stigmatella aurantiaca. Homologs were not found in any other myxobacteria (such as Sorangium cellulosum or Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans) which suggests the Pxr RNA gene may have a recent evolutionary origin in the sub-clade Myxococcales.
  PxR sRNA folds into 3 steam loops. SL1 and SL 2 are highly conserved across mycobacteria and SL1 is necessary for the regulatory function. However, a conserved eight-base-pair segment of the variable SL3 is necessary for PxR accumulation  and multicellular development.
caption: Secondary structure of Pxr sRNA.
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