Biochemical and structural characterization of a thermostable Dps protein with His-type ferroxidase centers and outer metal-binding sites.

The DNA-binding protein from starved cells (Dps) is found in a wide range of microorganisms, and it has been well characterized. However, little is known about Dps proteins from non-heterocystous filamentous cyanobacteria. In this study, a Dps protein from the thermophilic non-heterocystous filamentous cyanobacterium Thermoleptolyngbya sp. O-77 (TlDps1) was purified and characterized. PAGE and CD analyses of TlDps1 demonstrated that it had higher thermostability than previously reported Dps proteins. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that TlDps1 possessed His-type ferroxidase centers within the cavity and unique metal binding sites located on the surface of the protein, which presumably contributed to its exceedingly high thermostability.