VR-RNA

In molecular biology, VR-RNA is a small RNA produced by Clostridium perfringens. It functions as a regulator of the two-component VirR/VirS system.

VR-RNA regulates numerous genes including:
 * Toxin-encoding genes plc, colA and cpb2
 * Other virulence-related genes such as hyaluronidases and sialidase
 * Possible collagen adhesin gene (cna)
 * Extracellular nuclease, cadA
 * Enzymes such as Acid phosphatase, Heme oxygenase HemO and N-acetylglucosaminidases
 * Genes encoding transport proteins
 * Genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism
 * Genes encoding transport proteins
 * Arginine deiminase (ADI) pathway genes
 * Genes involved in citrate metabolism

VR-RNA regulates the toxin colA (collagenase) by base-pairing to colA mRNA, the 3′ end of VR-RNA base-pairs to a region in the 5′UTR of the colA mRNA. This induces cleavage of the colA mRNA in the 5′ UTR and leads to stabilisation of the mRNA and increased translation.