Chromatin structure and dynamics in hot environments: architectural proteins and DNA topoisomerases of thermophilic archaea

Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Sep 25;15(9):17162-87. doi: 10.3390/ijms150917162.

Abstract

In all organisms of the three living domains (Bacteria, Archaea, Eucarya) chromosome-associated proteins play a key role in genome functional organization. They not only compact and shape the genome structure, but also regulate its dynamics, which is essential to allow complex genome functions. Elucidation of chromatin composition and regulation is a critical issue in biology, because of the intimate connection of chromatin with all the essential information processes (transcription, replication, recombination, and repair). Chromatin proteins include architectural proteins and DNA topoisomerases, which regulate genome structure and remodelling at two hierarchical levels. This review is focussed on architectural proteins and topoisomerases from hyperthermophilic Archaea. In these organisms, which live at high environmental temperature (>80 °C <113 °C), chromatin proteins and modulation of the DNA secondary structure are concerned with the problem of DNA stabilization against heat denaturation while maintaining its metabolic activity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Archaea / genetics
  • Archaea / physiology*
  • Archaeal Proteins / chemistry
  • Archaeal Proteins / genetics
  • Archaeal Proteins / physiology*
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Chromatin / ultrastructure*
  • Climate
  • DNA Topoisomerases / genetics
  • DNA Topoisomerases / physiology*
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / chemistry
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / physiology
  • DNA, Archaeal / chemistry
  • DNA, Archaeal / genetics
  • DNA, Archaeal / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Archaeal
  • Genes, Archaeal
  • Histones / chemistry
  • Histones / genetics
  • Histones / physiology
  • Hot Temperature*
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Nucleosomes / metabolism
  • Nucleosomes / ultrastructure
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Archaeal Proteins
  • Chromatin
  • DNA, Archaeal
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Histones
  • Nucleosomes
  • DNA Topoisomerases
  • DNA reverse gyrase
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I