Cloning, expression, and characterization of a histone-like protein from the marine dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum (Dinophyceae)

Although nucleosomes and histones are lacking in dinoflagellate nuclei, small basic histone-like proteins have been reported, but their function(s) is unknown. In this study we cloned and sequenced a gene for a histone-like protein from the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum (Stein) Dodge (HLp) (formerly Gonyaulax polyedra Stein) and investigated its post-translational modification and DNA-binding activities. HLp appears to be acetylated in L. polyedrum , and we identified several L. polyedrum proteins that possess histone acetyltransferase activity and may be responsible for this modification. HLp binds weakly to L. polyedrum DNA but to certain specific sequences with higher affinity, consistent with its having a regulatory function.