Cyanobacterial DNA-binding protein related to Escherichia coli HU.

A DNA-binding protein has been isolated from two cyanobacteria (blue-green algae): Anabaena sp and Aphanocapsa sp. It has a molecular weight as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of about 10,000, is rich in lysine and arginine, and lacks tyrosine, tryptophan, and cysteine. The proteins from both strains show immunological identity with a similar DNA-binding protein from Escherichia coli, when tested by immunodiffusion with an antiserum prepared against the E. coli protein. Both the Aphanocapsa and E. coli proteins form compact, rapidly sedimenting complexes with cyanophage or bacteriophage DNA. The similarities between the proteins from cyanobacteria and E. coli suggest a degree of evolutionary conservation comparable to that of the histones of eukaryotes.