Format:
Online-Ressource
ISSN:
1469-3178
Content:
The histone‐like protein HU is a highly abundant DNA architectural protein that is involved in compacting the DNA of the bacterial nucleoid and in regulating the main DNA transactions, including gene transcription. However, the coordination of the genomic structure and function by HU is poorly understood. Here, we address this question by comparing transcript patterns and spatial distributions of RNA polymerase in Escherichia coli wild‐type and hupA/B mutant cells. We demonstrate that, in mutant cells, upregulated genes are preferentially clustered in a large chromosomal domain comprising the ribosomal RNA operons organized on both sides of OriC. Furthermore, we show that, in parallel to this transcription asymmetry, mutant cells are also impaired in forming the transcription foci—spatially confined aggregations of RNA polymerase molecules transcribing strong ribosomal RNA operons. Our data thus implicate HU in coordinating the global genomic structure and function by regulating the spatial distribution of RNA polymerase in the nucleoid.
Content:
Fast growing E. coli cells form distinct structures of the nucleoid, the transcription foci, which are analogous to the eukaryotic nucleoli governing the synthesis of rRNA. Work by Farcas and colleagues shows that the major nucleoid‐associated protein HU is required for transcription foci formation and proposes a model in which HU stabilises transcription foci by serving as a topological sink constraining excessive DNA supercoils generated during rRNA transcription.
In:
volume:11
In:
number:1
In:
year:2010
In:
pages:59-64
In:
extent:6
In:
European Molecular Biology Organization, EMBO reports, Heidelberg : EMBO Press, [200]-, 11, Heft 1 (2010), 59-64 (gesamt 6), 1469-3178
Language:
English
DOI:
10.1038/embor.2009.232
URN:
urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023041912420196476991
URL:
https://doi.org/10.1038/embor.2009.232
URL:
https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023041912420196476991
URL:
https://d-nb.info/128662567X/34
URL:
https://doi.org/10.1038/embor.2009.232
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