DNA Transactions in Bacteria and Membranes: A Place for the Hfq Protein?

Abstract

DNA metabolism consists of crucial processes occurring in all living cells. These processes include various transactions, such as DNA replication, genetic recombination, transposition, mutagenesis, and DNA repair. While it was initially assumed that these processes might occur in the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells, subsequent reports indicated the importance of the cell membrane in various DNA transactions. Furthermore, newly identified factors play significant roles in regulating DNA-related cellular processes. One such factor is the Hfq protein, originally discovered as an RNA chaperone but later shown to be involved in several molecular mechanisms. These include DNA transactions and interaction with the cell membrane. Recent studies have suggested that Hfq plays a role in the regulation of DNA replication, mutagenesis, and recombination. In this narrative review, we will focus on the importance of membranes in DNA transactions and discuss the potential role of Hfq-mediated regulation of these processes in Escherichia coli, where the protein is the best characterized. Special attention is given to the affinity of this small protein for both DNA and membranes, which might help explain some of the findings from recent experiments.