MmgR is a non-coding small RNA that controls PHB accumulation in Sinorhizobium meliloti.
MmgR appears to have a single origin in the ancestor diverging from the Rickettsiales.
mmgR homologs occur in most current species of α-proteobacteria and a new RNA family (αr8) is proposed.
A hallmark of mmgR alleles is a conserved 10-mer (5′-UUUCCUCCCU-3′) in a putative single-stranded region.
The subfamily αr8s1 includes mmgR orthologs that are linked by their microsynteny with the downstream NFGAH gene.