title: Nucleoid-associated proteins encoded on plasmids: Occurrence and mode of function.
abstract: Nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs) play a role in changing the shape of microbial DNA, making it more compact and affecting the regulation of transcriptional networks in host cells. Genes that encode NAPs include H-NS family proteins (H-NS, Ler, MvaT, BpH3, Bv3F, HvrA, and Lsr2), FIS, HU, IHF, Lrp, and NdpA, and are found in both microbial chromosomes and plasmid DNA. In the present study, NAP genes were distributed among 442 plasmids out of 4602 plasmid sequences, and many H-NS family proteins, and HU, IHF, Lrp, and NdpA were found in plasmids of Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammaproteobacteria, while HvrA, Lsr2, HU, and Lrp were found in other classes including Actinobacteria and Bacilli. Larger plasmids frequently carried multiple NAP genes. In addition, NAP genes were more frequently found in conjugative plasmids than non-transmissible plasmids. Several host cells carried the same types of H-NS family proteins on both their plasmids and chromosome(s), while this was not observed for other NAPs. Recent studies have shown that NAP genes on plasmids and chromosomes play important roles in the physical and regulatory integration of plasmids into the host cell.
authors.affiliation: Applied Chemistry and Biochemical Engineering Course, Department of Engineering, Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 432-8561, Japan; Department of Bioscience, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 3-5-1 Johoku, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 432-8561, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shintani
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
authors.forename: Chiho
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suzuki-Minakuchi
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan. Electronic address: anojiri@mail.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nojiri
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D001482:Base Composition; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C031908:H-NS protein, bacteria
keywords: H-NS; HU; Host chromosome; MvaT; NdpA; Nucleoid-associated proteins