Atomic resolution structure of a DNA-binding histone protein from the bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus

Histones are essential for genome compaction and transcription regulation in eukaryotes, where they assemble into octamers to form the nucleosome core. In contrast, archaeal histones assemble into dimers that form hypernucleosomes upon DNA binding. Although histone homologs have been identified in bacteria recently, their DNA-binding characteristics remain largely unexplored. Our study reveals that the bacterial histone HBb (Bd0055) is indispensable for the survival of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, suggesting critical roles in DNA organization and gene regulation. By determining crystal structures of free and DNA-bound HBb, we unveil its distinctive dimeric assembly, diverging from those of eukaryotic and archaeal histones, while also elucidating how it binds and bends DNA through interaction interfaces reminiscent of eukaryotic and archaeal histones. Building on this, by employing various biophysical and biochemical approaches, we further substantiated the ability of HBb to bind and compact DNA by bending in a sequence-independent manner. Finally, using DNA affinity purification and sequencing, we reveal that HBb binds along the entire genomic DNA of B. bacteriovorus without sequence specificity. These distinct DNA-binding properties of bacterial histones, showcasing remarkable similarities yet significant differences from their archaeal and eukaryotic counterparts, highlight the diverse roles histones play in DNA organization across all domains of life. SummaryHistones, traditionally known for organizing and regulating DNA in eukaryotes and archaea, have recently been discovered in bacteria, opening up a new frontier in our understanding of genome organization across the domains of life. Our study investigates the largely unexplored DNA-binding properties of bacterial histones, focusing on HBb in Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. We reveal that HBb is essential for bacterial survival and exhibits DNA-binding properties similar to archaeal and eukaryotic histones. However, unlike eukaryotic and archaeal histones, which wrap DNA, HBb bends DNA without sequence specificity. This work not only broadens our understanding of DNA organization across different life forms but also suggests that bacterial histones may have diverse roles in genome organization.