Identification and characterization of HU protein from Mycoplasma gallisepticum

A hypothetical ORF of Mycoplasma gallisepticum with a putative 99-amino-acid product (ORF99) was noted previously in the upstream region from the type II topoisomerase gene. The amino acid sequence shows weak homology with the Escherichia coli histone-like protein HU. To identify and characterize the protein product of ORF99, we prepared mouse antiserum against recombinant GST-ORF99 fusion protein. The antiserum reacted with an 11-kDa peptide in the crude cell extract of M. gallisepticum, indicating that this protein is an ORF99 product. ORF99 protein binds to DNA, although its binding affinity is weaker than that of E. coli HU. When ORF99 was cloned in a plasmid and expressed in E. coli cells depleted of HU, Mu phage growth was strongly promoted in the cells, showing the presence of HU activity. The effect of IHF mutation was suppressed when a high level of ORF99 protein was expressed in an E. coli mutant deficient in IHF.