title: Role of Dps (DNA-binding proteins from starved cells) aggregation on DNA.
abstract: The review outlines the experimental studies that have led to the current understanding at a molecular level of the protective role exerted by Dps proteins under stress conditions. After a brief description of the structural signatures and of the ferroxidase activity, which confers to all Dps proteins the capacity to decrease the hydroxyl radical induced DNA damage, the interaction of some family members with DNA is analysed. Special emphasis is given to the Dps structural elements that render the interaction with DNA possible and to the consequences that complex formation has on nucleoid organization and microbial survival.
authors.affiliation: C.N.R. Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Department of Biochemical Sciences A. Rossi-Fanelli, Sapienza, University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy. emilia.chiancone@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiancone
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ceci
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011485:Protein Binding; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C083911:DPS protein, Bacteria