Nucleoprotein filament formation is the structural basis for bacterial protein H-NS gene silencing.
H-NS is an abundant nucleoid-associated protein in bacteria that globally silences genes, including horizontally-acquired genes related to pathogenesis. Although it has been shown that H-NS has multiple modes of DNA-binding, which mode is employed in gene silencing is still unclear. Here, we report that in H-NS mutants that are unable to silence genes, are unable to form a rigid H-NS nucleoprotein filament. These results indicate that the H-NS nucleoprotein filament is crucial for its gene silencing function, and serves as the fundamental structural basis for gene silencing by H-NS and likely other H-NS-like bacterial proteins.
NUS Graduate school For Integrative Sciences and Engineering, Singapore 119077.
Ci Ji
CJ
Lim
Sin Yi
SY
Lee
Linda J
LJ
Kenney
Jie
J
Yan
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D020868:Gene Silencing; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C031908:H-NS protein, bacteria; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009698:Nucleoproteins