Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41238547›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Stress changes the material state of a bacterial biomolecular condensate and shifts its function from mRNA decay to storage.

Luis A Ortiz-Rodríguez, Hadi Yassine, Ali Hatami, Vidhyadhar Nandana, Christopher A Azaldegui, Jiayu Cheng, Yingxi Zhu, Jared M Schrader, Julie S Biteen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Luis A Ortiz-RodríguezDepartment of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4901-6439
Hadi YassineDepartments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
Ali HatamiDepartment of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
Vidhyadhar NandanaDepartments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0564-8343
Christopher A AzaldeguiDoctoral Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Jiayu ChengDepartment of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Yingxi ZhuDepartment of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7968-1640
Jared M SchraderDepartments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA. jaschrad@iu.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5728-5882
Julie S BiteenDepartment of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. jsbiteen@umich.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2038-6484

Funding

Mechanisms of Non-Shine-Dalgarno Translation InitiationR35GM124733 · NIGMS · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · PI Jared Michael Schrader · 2017 to 2026
$3.6M
Physicochemical properties driving membraneless organelle assembly in bacteriaR01GM143182 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI BITEEN, JULIE, MEYER, ANNE SARA · 2021 to 2024
$2.4M
Mapping the Interactions and Dynamics that Organize Bacteria CellsR01GM144731 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI BITEEN, JULIE · 2022 to 2025
$1.2M
Chemistry Biology Interface Training Program at Wayne State UniversityT32GM142519 · NIGMS · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · PI CHOW, CHRISTINE S, PFLUM, MARY KAY H · 2021 to 2025
$1.2M
NIGMS NIH HHS R01 GM143182NIGMS NIH HHS R01 GM144731NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM124733NIGMS NIH HHS T32 GM142519U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) R01GM143182U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) R01GM144731U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) R35GM124733U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) T32GM142519-03
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Bacterial ribonucleoprotein bodies (BR-bodies) are dynamic biomolecular condensates that play a pivotal role in RNA metabolism. We investigated how BR-bodies significantly influence mRNA fate by transitioning between liquid- and solid-like states in response to stress. With a combination of single-molecule and bulk fluorescence microscopy, biochemical assays, and quantitative analyses, we determine that BR-bodies promote efficient mRNA decay in a liquid-like condensate during exponential growth. On the other hand, BR-bodies are repurposed from sites of mRNA decay to reservoirs for mRNA storage under stress; a functional change that is enabled by their transition to a more rigid state, marked by reduced internal dynamics, increased molecular density, and prolonged residence time of Ribonuclease E. Furthermore, we manipulated ATP levels and translation rates, and we conclude that the accumulation of ribosome-depleted mRNA is a key factor driving BR-body rigification, and that condensate maturation further contributes to this process. Upon nutrient replenishment, stationary-phase BR-bodies disassemble, releasing stored mRNAs for rapid translation, demonstrating that BR-body function is governed by a reversible mechanism for resource management. These findings reveal adaptive strategies by which bacteria regulate RNA metabolism through condensate-mediated control of mRNA decay and storage.

Indexed as

Biomolecular CondensatesRibonucleoproteinsRNA, BacterialRNA, MessengerStress, PhysiologicalBacterial ProteinsCaulobacter crescentusEndoribonucleasesGene Expression Regulation, BacterialMicroscopy, FluorescenceProtein BiosynthesisRibosomesRNA StabilitySingle Molecule ImagingBacterial ProteinsEndoribonucleasesribonuclease ERibonucleoproteinsRNA, BacterialRNA, Messenger

Identifiers

PMID41238547
PMCPMC12618670

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.