How RNase E in a soil bacterium helps plants host symbiosis
Official title: Necessity of RNA degradosome assembly in Sinorhizobium meliloti for effective symbiosis
Funded at San Francisco State University · NIH-11401878 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are studying how a bacterial enzyme packages its RNA inside tiny granules to help a soil bacterium warmly colonize plant roots.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Francisco State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $155,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM153570-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401878 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient volunteers; the study is in bacteria and plants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients are not directly involved in this basic-science project.
What this research studies
This project looks at Sinorhizobium meliloti, a bacterium that forms a friendly partnership with legumes, and examines how RNA-processing proteins in its cells organize into BR-bodies to support successful plant colonization. By manipulating the RNase E protein’s tail region, researchers will see how changes affect the bacterium’s ability to form nodules and support plant growth, which could reveal new ways to prevent bacterial infections in related pathogens. The work combines cell biology, microbiology, and plant science to connect molecular details with the bigger picture of symbiosis and disease resistance. Results could inform strategies to curb antibiotic resistance and improve beneficial plant–microbe interactions. The study is conducted at San Francisco State University over several years with NIH support.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these mechanisms could lead to new approaches to prevent infections by related bacteria and improve beneficial plant-microbe partnerships.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows RNase E C-terminal domain affects BR-body formation and symbiosis, suggesting this approach is promising but still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Joseph Chiung-Chu — San Francisco State University
- Study coordinator: Chen, Joseph Chiung-Chu
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.