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. 1991 Nov 11;19(21):5915–5922. doi: 10.1093/nar/19.21.5915

The N-terminal part of the E.coli DNA binding protein FIS is essential for stimulating site-specific DNA inversion but is not required for specific DNA binding.

C Koch 1, O Ninnemann 1, H Fuss 1, R Kahmann 1
PMCID: PMC329047  PMID: 1834996

Abstract

FIS protein is involved in several different cellular processes stimulating site-specific recombination in phages Mu and lambda as well as transcription of stable RNA operons in E.coli. We have performed a mutational analysis of fis and provide genetic and biochemical evidence that a truncated version of FIS lacking the N-terminal region is sufficient for specific DNA binding and for stimulating lambda excision. These mutants also retain their ability to autoregulate fis gene expression. Such mutant proteins, however, cannot stimulate the enhancer dependent DNA inversion reaction.

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