Nucleoid condensation in Escherichia coli that express a chlamydial histone homolog.
Chlamydial cell types are adapted for either extracellular survival or intracellular growth. In the transcriptionally inert elementary bodies, the chromosome is densely compacted; in metabolically active reticulate bodies, the chromatin is loosely organized. Condensation of the chlamydial nucleoid occurs concomitant with expression of proteins homologous to eukaryotic histone H1. When the Chlamydia trachomatis 18-kilodalton histone homolog Hc1 is expressed in Escherichia coli, a condensed nucleoid structure similar to that of chlamydiae is observed with both light and electron microscopy. These results support a role for Hc1 in condensation of the chlamydial nucleoid.
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Host-Parasite Interaction Unit, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT 59840.
Hayes
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Hackstadt
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D015153:Blotting, Western; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002843:Chromatin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron
D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones; D004247:DNA; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I