Transcription-coupled nucleoid architecture in bacteria.
The circular bacterial genome DNA exists in cells in the form of nucleoids. In the present study, using genetic, molecular and structural biology techniques, we show that nascent single-stranded RNAs are involved in the step-wise folding of nucleoid fibers. In Escherichia coli, RNase A degraded thicker fibers (30 and 80 nm wide) into thinner fibers (10 nm wide), while RNase III and RNase H degraded 80-nm fibers into 30-nm (but not 10-nm) fibers. Similarly in Staphylococcus aureus, RNase A treatment resulted in 10-nm fibers. Treatment with the transcription inhibitor, rifampicin, in the absence of RNase A changed most nucleoid fibers to 10-nm fibers. Proteinase-K treatment of nucleoids exposed DNA. Thus, the smallest structural unit is an RNase A-resistant 10-nm fiber composed of DNA and proteins, and the hierarchical structure of the bacterial chromosome is controlled by transcription itself. In addition, the formation of 80-nm fibers from 30-nm fibers requires double-stranded RNA and RNA-DNA hetero duplex. RNA is evident in the architecture of log-phase uncondensed and stationary-phase condensed nucleoids.
Ohniwa
Ryosuke L
RL
Laboratory of Plasma Membrane and Nuclear Signaling, Kyoto University, Graduate School of Biostudies, Yoshidahonmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan. ohniwa@lif.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Morikawa
Kazuya
K
Takeshita
Sayaka L
SL
Kim
Joongbaek
J
Ohta
Toshiko
T
Wada
Chieko
C
Takeyasu
Kunio
K
D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004867:Equipment Design; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic / Q000737:chemistry; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic