CrsL story published!

Nontuberculous mycobacteria are a diverse group of mycobacteria that do not cause tuberculosis or leprosy, but several species can act as opportunistic pathogens. Although they are generally less infectious than Mycobacterium tuberculosis, their incidence is steadily increasing in the Czech Republic and worldwide. These species pose a particular risk to immunocompromised individuals and patients with chronic lung diseases. We can find them in diverse environments, including soil, water systems (household plumbing, showerheads, wastewater treatment plants), and even healthcare settings. In our lab, we study how these bacteria handle environmental stress. We recently identified a small 5.7 kDa protein, CrsL, involved in surviving temperature changes by regulating temperature-adaptation genes. CrsL is intrinsically unstructured on its own but folds upon binding to CarD. CrsL-CarD interaction is very strong (in the nanomolar range) and affects CarD association with RNA polymerase. CrsL negatively regulates the expression of two genes that contribute to cold stress adaptation. This helps mycobacteria grow better at higher temperatures. Thanks to all collaborators that helped with this project! https://academic.oup.com/nar/article/53/22/gkaf1342/8382376