Regulation of motility in Vibrio cholerae by global RNA chaperone ProQ

Devlitšarov, Daniel (2026): Regulation of motility in Vibrio cholerae by global RNA chaperone ProQ. Dissertation, LMU München: Faculty of Biology

Abstract

Global RNA chaperone ProQ is known to regulate many critical processes in human pathogens such as Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli. However, it remains relatively understudied in Vibrio cholerae, a model enteric pathogen known to cause epidemic outbreaks. Furthermore, ProQ is not known to regulate motility in Vibrio cholerae, as it does in other organisms such as Salmonella enterica. Motility regulation plays a central role in the biology of this bacterium, and is critical for full virulence. The Introduction chapter gives an overview of Vibrio cholerae biology, motility of enteric pathogens with a focus on Vibrio cholerae, and gene regulation by sRNAs and RNA chaperones, with a focus on ProQ. The study presented in this Dissertation explores the relationship between ProQ and the sRNA FlaX in Vibrio cholerae. In particular, the focus is on characterizing FlaX, demonstrating its interaction with ProQ and flaB, and uncovering the potential mechanism by which these binding partners regulate motility in Vibrio cholerae. Experiments were carried out under standard laboratory conditions, with some assays performed at both low and high cell density. Characterization of other ProQ-binding sRNAs in Vibrio cholerae, as well as investigation of ProQ-mediated motility regulation in other organisms falls outside the scope of this study, as do any in vivo experiments.

• Item Type: Theses (Dissertation, LMU Munich)
• Keywords: vibrio cholerae, bacterial, motility, RNA, ProQ, FlaX, enteric, pathogen, post-transcriptional, regulation
• Subjects: 500 Natural sciences and mathematics; 500 Natural sciences and mathematics > 570 Life sciences
• Faculties: Faculty of Biology
• Language: English
• Date of oral examination: 11. March 2026
• 1. Referee: Jung, Kirsten
• Signature of the printed copy: 0001/UMC 31902