Characterization and primary structures of DNA-binding HU-type proteins from <em>Rhizobiaceae</em>.

The DNA-binding HU-type proteins from several species of Rhizobiaceae including Rhizobium meliloti, two strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum with highly different phenotypic characters and Agrobacterium tumefaciens, were characterized and their amino acid sequences were determined. HU-type proteins isolated form R. leguminosarum L₁₈ and A. tumefaciens are identical and show slight differences with the R. meliloti HU-type protein. On the other hand the R. leguminosarum L₅₃ HU-type protein is quite different from the proteins cited above; several amino acid substitutions encountered in this protein result bacteria in the phylogeny determined by numerical taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]