When Ribonucleases Come into Play in Pathogens: A Survey of Gram-Positive Bacteria

Figure 1

Diagram illustrating RNA decay by the RNases involved in virulence in Gram-positive bacteria. Removal of pyrophosphate from the 5′ end of mRNA by RppH is represented by the scissors. The degradation of RNA via the 3′ end is mediated by the 3′ to 5′ exoribonucleolytic activity of PNPase (in yellow). RNases J1 and J2 (in green) cleave RNA endoribonucleolytically and exoribonucleolytically in the 5′ to 3′ direction. RNase Y (in pink) and the dsRNA-specific RNase III (in blue) cleave RNA endoribonucleolytically.