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Proteins from the Prokaryotic Nucleoid. Structural and Functional Characterization of the Escherichia coli DNA-Binding Proteins NS (HU) and H-NS

  • Conference paper
Bacterial Chromatin

Part of the book series: Proceedings in Life Sciences ((LIFE SCIENCES))

Abstract

In spite of the commonplace notion that prokaryotes do not contain histones and that their DNA is not organized in chromatin, evidence is accumulating that bacterial DNA is indeed organized in nucleosomelike structures by histonelike proteins. Since the problem of the physical packaging and confinement of the genetic material can be regarded as a fundamental problem in all biological systems and in light of the underlying architectural unity of all living cells, it appears unlikely that completely different strategies have evolved to meet the same basic need. If the general strategies are the same, or at least, very similar, then it is possible that the differences existing between the pro- and eukaryotic systems may merely reflect differences in the tactics that each system must have perfected in order to harmonize its DNA-packaging mechanism with its specific physiological requirements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology, Laboratory of Genetics, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino (MC), Italy

    C. O. Gualerzi, M. A. Canonaco & G. Gianfranceschi

  2. Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Genetik, D-1000, Berlin 33, Germany

    C. O. Gualerzi, K. Friedrich, R. T. Pawlik, M. A. Canonaco & C. L. Pon

  3. Department of Cell Biology, University of Calabria, 87036, Rende (CS), Italy

    M. A. Losso & M. Lammi

  4. Zentrum Biochemie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 3000, Hannover, Germany

    A. Pingoud

Authors
  1. C. O. Gualerzi
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  2. M. A. Losso
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  3. M. Lammi
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  4. K. Friedrich
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  5. R. T. Pawlik
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  6. M. A. Canonaco
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  7. G. Gianfranceschi
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  8. A. Pingoud
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  9. C. L. Pon
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology, Laboratory of Genetics, University of Camerino, I-62032, Camerino (MC), Italy

    Claudio O. Gualerzi

  2. Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Genetik, Ihnestraße 73, D-1000, Berlin 33, Germany

    Claudio O. Gualerzi  & Cynthia L. Pon  & 

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© 1986 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Gualerzi, C.O. et al. (1986). Proteins from the Prokaryotic Nucleoid. Structural and Functional Characterization of the Escherichia coli DNA-Binding Proteins NS (HU) and H-NS. In: Gualerzi, C.O., Pon, C.L. (eds) Bacterial Chromatin. Proceedings in Life Sciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-71266-1_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-71266-1_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-71268-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-71266-1

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