Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 117542, Singapore.
Synchrotron SOLEIL, F-91192 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Lab Chip. 2024 Nov 5;24(22):5137-5144. doi: 10.1039/d4lc00628c.
Regulation of protein mobility is a fundamental aspect of cellular processes. In this study, we examined the impact of DNA methylation on the diffusion of nucleoid associated protein Hfq. This protein is one of the most abundant proteins that shapes the bacterial chromosome and is involved in several aspects of nucleic acid metabolism. Fluorescence microscopy was employed to monitor the movement of Hfq along double-stranded DNA, which was stretched due to confinement within a nanofluidic channel. The mobility of Hfq is significantly influenced by DNA methylation. Our results underscore the importance of bacterial epigenetic modifications in governing the movement of nucleoid associated proteins such as Hfq. Increased levels of methylation result in enhanced binding affinity, which in turn slows down the diffusion of Hfq on DNA. The reported control of protein mobility by DNA methylation has potential implications for the mechanisms involved in target DNA search processes and dynamic modelling of the bacterial chromosome.
蛋白质流动性的调节是细胞过程的一个基本方面。在这项研究中，我们研究了 DNA 甲基化对核体相关蛋白 Hfq 扩散的影响。这种蛋白质是塑造细菌染色体的最丰富的蛋白质之一，参与核酸代谢的几个方面。荧光显微镜用于监测 Hfq 沿着双链 DNA 的运动，由于在纳米流体通道内的限制，双链 DNA 被拉伸。Hfq 的流动性受到 DNA 甲基化的显著影响。我们的结果强调了细菌表观遗传修饰在控制核体相关蛋白（如 Hfq）运动方面的重要性。甲基化水平的增加导致结合亲和力增强，从而减缓 Hfq 在 DNA 上的扩散。DNA 甲基化对蛋白质流动性的控制可能对涉及靶 DNA 搜索过程和细菌染色体动态建模的机制有影响。
