Killer system of Kluyveromyces lactis: the open reading frame 10 of the pGK12 plasmid encodes a putative DNA binding protein

ORF 10 of the K2 plasmid from Kluyveromyces lactis encodes a small basic protein (22.3% lysine). The function of its product has been investigated. Western blot analysis, using an antibody against MS2 RNA polymerase/ORF 10 fusion protein, reveals a protein band with an apparent molecular weight of 14 kDa. The protein can bind a DNA-Sepharose column, and is eluted by 350 mM-salt. Immunoprecipitation experiments show that the ORF 10 protein coprecipitates with the linear genomic DNAs of the two killer plasmids (K1 and K2). From Western/Southern blot data, it is possible to conclude that the interaction between protein and DNA occurs directly, rather than via other protein(s). ORF 10 is easily detected by Western blot and its transcript is one of the most abundant of the K2 plasmid, suggesting that this protein may have a structural rather than a regulatory function. This possibility is also suggested by the observed sequence homology between the ORF 10 protein and the family of histone-like proteins.