Histones, HMG, HU, IHF: Même combat.
In this review article we present a compilation of the proteins homologous to Escherichia coli HU: the HU-like family. Two of these, HU and IHF from E coli have been extensively characterized genetically and biochemically. Due to their DNA binding activities, these proteins confer a condensed shape to the chromosome and regulate the transcription of selected sets of its genes. The parallel between the dual function of the HU-like proteins and the roles described for eukaryotic histone and HMG proteins is striking, especially in the view that they are evolutionary unrelated.
Oberto
J
J
Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Paris, France.
Drlica
K
K
Rouvière-Yaniv
J
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry*; D034982:Integration Host Factors; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D006657:Histones; D034982:Integration Host Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; C040330:histone-like protein HU, bacteria