title: Nucleoid remodeling by an altered HU protein: reorganization of the transcription program.
abstract: Bacterial nucleoid organization is believed to have minimal influence on the global transcription program. Using an altered bacterial histone-like protein, HUalpha, we show that reorganization of the nucleoid configuration can dynamically modulate the cellular transcription pattern. The mutant protein transformed the loosely packed nucleoid into a densely condensed structure. The nucleoid compaction, coupled with increased global DNA supercoiling, generated radical changes in the morphology, physiology, and metabolism of wild-type K-12 Escherichia coli. Many constitutive housekeeping genes involved in nutrient utilization were repressed, whereas many quiescent genes associated with virulence were activated in the mutant. We propose that, as in eukaryotes, the nucleoid architecture dictates the global transcription profile and, consequently, the behavior pattern in bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA.
authors.forename: Sudeshna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kar
authors.forename: Rotem
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Edgar
authors.forename: Sankar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adhya
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial; D004278:DNA, Superhelical; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004278:DNA, Superhelical; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C040330:histone-like protein HU, bacteria