The Bacillus subtilis HBsu Protein Modifies the Effects of α/β-Type, Small Acid-Soluble Spore Proteins on DNA

Abstract

ABSTRACT HBsu, the Bacillus subtilis homolog of the Escherichia coli HU proteins and the major chromosomal protein in vegetative cells of B. subtilis , is present at similar levels in vegetative cells and spores (∼5 × 10 4 monomers/genome). The level of HBsu in spores was unaffected by the presence or absence of the α/β-type, small acid-soluble proteins (SASP), which are the major chromosomal proteins in spores. In developing forespores, HBsu colocalized with α/β-type SASP on the nucleoid, suggesting that HBsu could modulate α/β-type SASP-mediated properties of spore DNA. Indeed, in vitro studies showed that HBsu altered α/β-type SASP protection of pUC19 from DNase digestion, induced negative DNA supercoiling opposing α/β-type SASP-mediated positive supercoiling, and greatly ameliorated the α/β-type SASP-mediated increase in DNA persistence length. However, HBsu did not significantly interfere with the α/β-type SASP-mediated changes in the UV photochemistry of DNA that explain the heightened resistance of spores to UV radiation. These data strongly support a role for HBsu in modulating the effects of α/β-type SASP on the properties of DNA in the developing and dormant spore.