Primary Structure of the himA Gene of Escherichia coli: Homology with DNA-binding Protein HU and Association with the Phenylalanyl-tRNA Synthetase Operon

Abstract

The himA and himD1 genes of Escherichia coli are two unlinked genes that control a large number of diverse reactions in the bacterial cell (Miller et al. 1979; Miller and Friedman 1980). Each gene contributes one of the subunits of integration host factor (IHF), a specific DNA-binding protein that functions in genetic recombination as well as in transcriptional and translational control (Miller and Nash 1981; Miller et al. 1981; Nash and Robertson 1981). IHF plays a crucial role in the lysogenic life cycle of bacteriophage λ, as it is required not only in the recombination reaction, which inserts λ DNA into the E. coli chromosome, but also for the synthesis of Int and cI repressor, two phage proteins necessary for DNA insertion and repression, respectively (Miller 1981). The synthesis of Int and cI proteins is regulated indirectly by IHF via translational control of the λcII protein (Hoyt et al. 1982)....