hopC RNAs are found upstream of an operon of two genes called hopC and hopB (also called alpa and alpB). Experiments on the start of transcription for the hopCB operon[2] indicate that hopC RNAs lie within the 5' untranslated region of this operon. The hopCB operon is induced to higher levels of expression in response to low pH.[2] This fits in with data that HopCB is involved in binding to humanepithelial cells,[3] which is presumably something that the bacteria do during infection of the low-pH environment of the stomach.
Previous work suggested that a repeat of 13 thymidinenucleotides might be involved in regulating the abundance of the hopCB operon.[2] However, this 13-nucleotide region lies upstream of the transcription start site, and is therefore independent of hopC motif RNAs.
^Odenbreit S, Faller G, Haas R (September 2002). "Role of the alpAB proteins and lipopolysaccharide in adhesion of Helicobacter pylori to human gastric tissue". Int. J. Med. Microbiol. 292 (3–4): 247–256. doi:10.1078/1438-4221-00204. PMID12398215.