The regulation of transcription initiation by integration host factor

Abstract

Integration host factor (IHF) of Escherichia coli is an asymmetric histone‐like protein that binds and bends the DNA at specific sequences. IHF functions as an accessory factor in a wide variety of processes including replication, site‐specific recombination and transcription. In many of these processes IHF was shown to act as an architectural element which helps the formation of nucleo‐protein complexes by bending of the DNA at specific sites. This MicroReview shows how such a structural role of IHF can influence the initiation of transcription. In addition, it summarizes the evidence indicating that IHF can stimulate transcription via a direct interaction with RNA polymerase and explores the possibility that the asymmetry of the IHF protein might reflect such an interaction Copyright © 1995, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved