Publication
Article Metrics
Citations
Online attention
CdbA is a DNA-binding protein and c-di-GMP receptor important for nucleoid organization and segregation in Myxococcus xanthus
DOI:
10.1038/s41467-020-15628-8
Authors:
Dorota
Skotnicka
(Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology)
,
Wieland
Steinchen
(Philipps-Universität Marburg)
,
Dobromir
Szadkowski
(Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology)
,
Ian T.
Cadby
(University of Birmingham)
,
Andrew L.
Lovering
(University of Birmingham)
,
Gert
Bange
(Philipps-Universität Marburg)
,
Lotte
Søgaard-andersen
(Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology)
Co-authored by industrial partner:
No
Type:
Journal Paper
Journal:
Nature Communications
, VOL 11
State:
Published (Approved)
Published:
April 2020

Abstract: Cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) is a second messenger that modulates multiple responses to environmental and cellular signals in bacteria. Here we identify CdbA, a DNA-binding protein of the ribbon-helix-helix family that binds c-di-GMP in Myxococcus xanthus. CdbA is essential for viability, and its depletion causes defects in chromosome organization and segregation leading to a block in cell division. The protein binds to the M. xanthus genome at multiple sites, with moderate sequence specificity; however, its depletion causes only modest changes in transcription. The interactions of CdbA with c-di-GMP and DNA appear to be mutually exclusive and residue substitutions in CdbA regions important for c-di-GMP binding abolish binding to both c-di-GMP and DNA, rendering these protein variants non-functional in vivo. We propose that CdbA acts as a nucleoid-associated protein that contributes to chromosome organization and is modulated by c-di-GMP, thus revealing a link between c-di-GMP signaling and chromosome biology.
Journal Keywords: Bacterial genomics; Bacterial structural biology; Cellular microbiology; Chromosomes
Subject Areas:
Biology and Bio-materials
Instruments:
I02-Macromolecular Crystallography
,
I03-Macromolecular Crystallography
Documents:
s41467-020-15628-8.pdf