eLife
eLife
5 years ago

Mechanism of environmentally driven conformational changes that modulate H-NS DNA bridging activity

Liang Qin, Jocelyne Vreede, Andreas Hofmann, Geri F Moolenaar, Remus T Dame, Nora Goosen, Ramon A van der Valk
Bacteria frequently need to adapt to altered environmental conditions. Adaptation requires changes in gene expression, often mediated by global regulators of transcription. The nucleoid-associated protein H‑NS is a key global regulator in Gram-negative bacteria, and is believed to be a crucial player in bacterial chromatin organization via its DNA bridging activity. H‑NS activity in vivo is modulated by physico-chemical factors (osmolarity, pH, temperature) and interaction partners. Mechanistically it is unclear how functional modulation of H-NS by such factors is achieved. Here, we show that a diverse spectrum of H-NS modulators alter the DNA bridging activity of H-NS. Changes in monovalent and divalent ion concentrations drive an abrupt switch between a bridging and non-bridging DNA binding mode. Similarly, synergistic and antagonistic co-regulators modulate the DNA bridging efficiency. Structural studies suggest a conserved mechanism: H-NS switches between a "closed" and an "open", bridging competent, conformation driven by environmental cues and interaction partners.

Publisher URL: https://elifesciences.org/articles/27369

DOI: 10.7554/eLife.27369

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