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Bacterial lipid droplets bind to DNA via an intermediary protein that enhances survival under stress

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  • Congyan Zhang

    (National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Li Yang

    (National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yunfeng Ding

    (National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yang Wang

    (National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Lan Lan

    (National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Qin Ma

    (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiang Chi

    (National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Peng Wei

    (National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yongfang Zhao

    (National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Alexander Steinbüchel

    (Institute of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Münster
    King Abdulaziz University)

  • Hong Zhang

    (National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Pingsheng Liu

    (National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Lipid droplets (LDs) are multi-functional organelles consisting of a neutral lipid core surrounded by a phospholipid monolayer, and exist in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans. Here we study the functions of LDs in the oleaginous bacterium Rhodococcus jostii. We show that these LDs bind to genomic DNA through the major LD protein, MLDS, which increases survival rate of the bacterial cells under nutritional and genotoxic stress. MLDS expression is regulated by a transcriptional regulator, MLDSR, that binds to the operator and promoter of the operon encoding both proteins. LDs sequester MLDSR, controlling its availability for transcriptional regulation. Our findings support the idea that bacterial LDs can regulate nucleic acid function and facilitate bacterial survival under stress.

Suggested Citation

  • Congyan Zhang & Li Yang & Yunfeng Ding & Yang Wang & Lan Lan & Qin Ma & Xiang Chi & Peng Wei & Yongfang Zhao & Alexander Steinbüchel & Hong Zhang & Pingsheng Liu, 2017. "Bacterial lipid droplets bind to DNA via an intermediary protein that enhances survival under stress," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms15979
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15979
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