Systems-wide analysis of the GATC-binding nucleoid-associated protein Gbn and its impact onStreptomycesdevelopment

Abstract

Bacterial chromosome structure is organized by a diverse group of proteins collectively called nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs). Many NAPs have been studied in detail in Streptomyces, including Lsr2, HupA, HupS, and sIHF. Here, we show that SCO1839 represents a novel family of small NAPs unique to Actinobacteria and recognizes a consensus sequence consisting of GATC followed by (A/T)T. The protein was designated Gbn for GATC-binding NAP. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) detected more than 2800 binding regions, encompassing some 3600 GATCWT motifs, which comprise 55% of all motifs in the S. coelicolor genome. DNA binding of Gbn in vitro increased DNA stiffness but not compaction, suggesting a role in regulation rather than chromosome organization. Despite the huge number of binding sites, the DNA binding profiles were nearly identical during vegetative and aerial growth. The exceptions were SCO1311 and SCOt32, for a tRNA editing enzyme and a tRNA that recognises the rare leucine codon CUA, respectively, which were nearly exclusively bound during vegetative growth. Deletion of gbn led to pleiotropic alterations in developmental timing, morphogenesis and antibiotic production. Taken together, our data show that Gbn is a highly pleiotropic NAP that impacts growth and development in streptomycetes.