Abstract
Anti-terminator proteins control gene expression by recognizing control signals on cognate mRNAs and preventing transcriptional termination. HutP ofBacillus subtilisregulates thehutoperon by an anti-termination mechanism. Recently, crystal structures of HutP [apo-form of HutP, HutP-HBN (histidine analog), HutP-L-histidine-Mg2+, and HutP-L-histidine-Mg2+-RNA] have been reported. These structures and functional studies on HutP showed how the protein undergoes conformational changes in response to two key components : L-histidine and Mg2+ions, before binding to the cognate terminator RNA.
