[Interaction of superhelical DNA with the nonhistone protein HMG1]

The interaction between nonhistone chromosomal protein HMG1 and plasmid DNA was studied by optical and hydrodynamical methods. The recombinant protein HMG1 produced by yeast Pichia pastoris strain was used. We have shown that according to the CD spectra local conformational changes in DNA helix occur in the region of DNA-protein interaction. These changes are most significant at r < 3 (w/w). Both gel-shift assay and ultracentrifugation, as well as CD data, indicate that protein-protein interactions between HMG1 molecules play a major role in the formation of DNA-protein complexes. It is suggested that the protein C-terminus may affect HMG1-DNA binding not only by a direct interaction with DNA helix, but also by protein-protein interactions.