The Structure of the Hfq Protein from Chromobacterium haemolyticum Revealed a New Variant of Regulation of RNA Binding with the Protein

The structure of the Hfq protein from the bacterium Chromobacterium haemolyticum , which forms crystals in two different spatial groups, has been determined. In both cases, the protein has a specific quaternary hexamer-ring structure. The obtained structure showed a previously undescribed interaction between the C-terminal unstructured part of Hfq and the amino acid residues of the proximal RNA-binding site of the protein. This contact may contribute to the regulation of the binding of RNA molecules to the Hfq protein.