PURIFICATION OF IHF-LIKE PROTEIN FROM GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA IN ONE CHROMATOGRAPHIC STEP

We describe a fast and very efficient method of purification which yie lds highly purified integration host factor-like proteins in one chrom atografic step. IHF-like proteins from Acinetobacter junii or Proteus vulgaris are each an alpha beta heterodimer (subunits of 10 and 11 kDa ) similar to the IHF of Escherichia coli when analyzed by polyacrylami de gel electrophoresis. The purified IHF are able to bind to the same ihf sites as IHF of E. coli. The results presented confirm that IHF is conserved during evolution in gram-negative bacteria.