Reduced DNA flexibility in complexes with a type II DNA binding protein

We studied internal molecular motions in Bacillus subtilis phage SPO1 DNA using the time-resolved fluorescence polarization anisotropy (FPA) of intercalated ethidium. The torsional flexibility of this (hydroxymethyl)uracil-containing DNA is very similar to that of naturally occurring thymine-containing DNAs, as judged from fits of the time-resolved FPA decay to an elastic DNA model. Binding of transcription factor 1 (TF1), a type II procaryotic DNA binding protein encoded by the phage SPO1, enhances the FPA, indicating a substantial decrease in the average DNA torsional flexibility in the DNA-TF1 complex. The FPA increase is correlated with a reduced ethidium binding affinity. The effects can be noticed at TF1 binding ratios less than 1 TF1 dimer/500 DNA base pairs, and the measured torsional rigidity at high TF1 binding ratios (1 TF1 dimer/15-20 DNA base pairs) is about 7 times greater than in the absence of TF1. On the basis of a discussion of various mechanisms for the observed effect we argue that it is due to protein-induced DNA bending at low binding densities although other explanations are also possible. This interpretation might have implications for understanding the biological function of TF1.