Figure 2.

Translational regulation of the E. coli σ factor RpoS by the non-coding RNAs DsrA and OxyS. Translational activation of RpoS depends on base pairing between the rpoS mRNA and the DsrA RNA. DsrA competes with a secondary structure within the rpoS mRNA that serves as a cis-acting inhibitor of translation. DsrA-mediated translation of RpoS requires the RNA-binding protein Hfq and is negatively regulated by the OxyS RNA, which competes for the RNA-binding site in Hfq.