title: Structure-function relationship and regulation of two Bacillus subtilis DNA-binding proteins, HBsu and AbrB.
abstract: Microorganisms use a number of small basic proteins for organization and compaction of their DNA. By their interaction with the genome, these proteins do have a profound effect on gene expression, growth behavior, and viability. It has to be distinguished between indirect effects as a consequence of the state of chromosome condensation and relaxation that influence the rate of RNA polymerase action as represented by the histone-like proteins, and direct effects by specific binding of proteins to defined DNA segments predominantly located around promoter sequences. This latter class is represented by the transition-state regulators that are involved in integrating various global stimuli and orchestrating expression of the genes under their regulation for a better adaptation to changes in growth rate. In this article we will focus on two different but abundant DNA binding proteins of the gram-positive model organism Bacillus subtilis, the histone-like HBsu as a member of the unspecific and the transition state regulator AbrB as a member of specific classes of DNA binding proteins.
authors.affiliation: Philipps Universität Marburg, Biochemie-FB Chemie, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Marahiel
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C060762:AbrB protein, Bacillus subtilis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C075779:Hbsu protein, bacteria; D014157:Transcription Factors