Premium
Nucleoid occlusion protein N oc recruits DNA to the bacterial cell membrane
Author(s) -
Adams David William,
Wu Ling Juan,
Errington Jeff
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.15252/embj.201490177
Subject(s) - nucleoid , biology , dna , membrane protein , cell membrane , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , escherichia coli , membrane , genetics , gene
To proliferate efficiently, cells must co‐ordinate division with chromosome segregation. In Bacillus subtilis, the nucleoid occlusion protein Noc binds to specific DNA sequences ( NBS s) scattered around the chromosome and helps to protect genomic integrity by coupling the initiation of division to the progression of chromosome replication and segregation. However, how it inhibits division has remained unclear. Here, we demonstrate that Noc associates with the cell membrane via an N‐terminal amphipathic helix, which is necessary for function. Importantly, the membrane‐binding affinity of this helix is weak and requires the assembly of nucleoprotein complexes, thus establishing a mechanism for DNA ‐dependent activation of Noc. Furthermore, division inhibition by Noc requires recruitment of NBS DNA to the cell membrane and is dependent on its ability to bind DNA and membrane simultaneously. Indeed, Noc production in a heterologous system is sufficient for recruitment of chromosomal DNA to the membrane. Our results suggest a simple model in which the formation of large membrane‐associated nucleoprotein complexes physically occludes assembly of the division machinery.