Amyloid-like DNA bridging: a new mode of DNA shaping

All organisms depend on specific proteins to compact and organize their genomes. In eukaryotes, histones fulfil this role, while bacterial chromosomes are shaped by nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs). Among its pleiotropic functions, the NAP Hfq plays a pivotal role in bacterial genome organization. In this study, we characterized the structure of the C-terminal extension of Hfq, which mediates chromosomal compaction, in its DNA-bound state. Using an integrative approach that combined transmission electron microscopy, neutron scattering, site-directed mutagenesis, and molecular modeling, we identified an amyloid module formed by the C-terminal region of Hfq. This module uniquely bridges and compacts six DNA molecules, marking the first documented instance of an amyloid structure with DNA-bridging properties. Our findings redefine the functional landscape of amyloids, linking them to genome architecture and gene regulation. This result suggests that amyloid-DNA interactions may represent a conserved mechanism across biological systems, with profound implications for understanding genome organization and the regulation of gene expression in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.