TY - JOUR T1 - Environment driven conformational changes modulate H-NS DNA bridging activity JF - bioRxiv DO - 10.1101/097436 SP - 097436 AU - Ramon A. van der Valk AU - Jocelyne Vreede AU - Geri F. Moolenaar AU - Andreas Hofmann AU - Nora Goosen AU - Remus T. Dame Y1 - 2016/01/01 UR - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/12/30/097436.abstract N2 - Bacteria frequently need to adapt to altered environmental conditions. Adaptation requires changes in gene expression, often mediated by global regulators of transcription. The nucleoid-associated protein H-NS is a key global regulator in Gram-negative bacteria, and is believed to be a crucial player in bacterial chromatin organization via its DNA bridging activity. H-NS activity in vivo is modulated by physico-chemical factors (osmolarity, pH, temperature) and interaction partners. Mechanistically it is unclear how functional modulation of H-NS by such factors is achieved. Here, we show that a diverse spectrum of H-NS modulators alter the ability of H-NS to bridge DNA. Changes in monovalent and divalent ion concentrations drive an abrupt switch between a bridging and non-bridging DNA binding mode. Similarly, synergistic and antagonistic co-regulators modulate the DNA bridging efficiency. Structural studies suggest a conserved mechanism: H-NS switches between a “closed” and an “open”, bridging competent, conformation driven by environmental cues and interaction partners. ER -