Biochemical Methods for the Study of the FinO Family of Bacterial RNA Chaperones

The FinO family of proteins constitutes a group of RNA chaperones that interacts with small RNAs (sRNAs) to regulate gene expression in many bacterial species. Here we describe detailed protocols for the biochemical analysis of the RNA chaperone activity of these proteins. Methods are described for preparation of RNA, RNA 5' end labeling with radioisotope and modified EMSA protocols to test the ability of these proteins to catalyze RNA strand exchange and RNA duplex formation.