In vivo functionalities of B. anthracis Hfqs. (A, B) Effect of expression of His-Hfqs in ΔlacΔhfq rpoS-lacZ E. coli (CEV017-CEV019; left side of plate) or Δlac rpoS-lacZ (hfq+) E. coli (CEV020-022; right side of plate, with labels underlined). Plate (A) was incubated overnight at 37°C, and Plate (B) was incubated overnight at 30°C. (C) β-galactosidase assay of SG30013 or YN585 transformed with His-Hfq1, His-Hfq3, or His-Hfq3-Q8A vectors, grown overnight in LB + 100 µg/mL Amp + 100 µg/mL IPTG at 37°C. Bars represent average of three biological replicates ± standard error. (D) Impact of mutants on His-Hfq1 interference (strains CEV023-026). (E) Impact of Q8A mutation on His-Hfq3 complementation (CEV028). #1 and #2 indicate two independently mutagenized Hfq3-Q8A vector stocks for generation of CEV028; CEV017 and CEV019 are provided for comparison. (F) Impact of Q8A mutation on His-Hfq3 in the hfq+ background (CEV027).