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Abstract

Analyses of the RNA metabolism of hyperthermophilic archaea highlight
the efficiency of regulatory RNAs and RNA-guided processes at extreme
temperatures. These organisms must overcome the intrinsic thermolability
of RNAs. Elevated levels of RNA modifications and structured GC-rich
regions are observed for many universal noncoding RNA families. Guide
RNAs are often protected from degradation by their presence within
ribonucleoprotein complexes. Modification and ligation of RNA termini
can be employed to impair exonucleolytic degradation. Finally, antisense
strand transcription promotes the formation of RNA duplexes and can be
used to stabilize RNA regions. In our review, we provide examples of
these RNA stabilization mechanisms that have been observed in
hyperthermophilic archaeal model organisms.