FIS modulates growth phase-dependent topological transitions of DNA in Escherichia coli

The Escherichia coli DNA-binding protein FIS serves as a DNA architectural factor in two unrelated enzymatic reactions, the site-specific inversion of DNA and transcriptional activation of stable RNA promoters. In both these processes, FIS facilitates the assembly and dynamic transitions of two structurally distinct nucleoprotein complexes. We have proposed previously that, in these systems, FIS stabilizes writhed DNA microloops by binding at multiple helically phased sites in DNA. However, FIS also binds and bends DNA at many non-specific sites and, at its maximum levels in the early exponential phase, FIS could potentially occupy a considerable part of the E. coli chromosome. Here, we show that fis affects growth phase-specific alterations in the supercoliing level of DNA. Expression of fis accelerates the accumulation of moderately supercolied plasmids in stationary phase, which are stabilized by FIS after nutritional shift-up. In accordance with such a function, FIS modulates the relaxing and supercoliing activities of topoisomerases in vitro in a way that keeps RNA in a moderately supercolied state. Our results suggest that the primary role of FIS is to modulate chromosomal dynamics during bacterial growth.