Absence of the KhpA and KhpB (JAG/EloR) RNA‐binding proteins suppresses the requirement for PBP2b by overproduction of FtsA in Streptococcus pneumoniae D39

What is it about?

RNA binding proteins KhpA and KhpB (JAG; EloR), which are virulence factors, form a complex in cells of the Gram-positive pathogen, Streptococcus pneumoniae. KhpA/B negatively regulates ftsA expression post-transcriptionally, and FtsA overproduction in ΔkhpA/B mutants is necessary and sufficient for suppression of some, but not all, mutations in certain essential genes that mediate peptidoglycan synthesis. The combined results of this study suggest that multimeric KhpA/B may act as a pleiotropic RNA chaperone controlling cell division.

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