This family, many of whose members are YcbG, organises the macrodomain Ter of the chromosome of bacteria such as E coli. In these bacteria, insulated macrodomains influence the segregation of sister chromatids and the mobility of chromosomal DNA. Organisation of the Terminus region (Ter) into a macrodomain relies on the presence of a 13 bp motif called matS repeated 23 times in the 800-kb-long domain. MatS sites are the main targets in the E. coli chromosome of YcbG or MatP (macrodomain Ter protein). MatP accumulates in the cell as a discrete focus that co-localises with the Ter macrodomain. The effects of MatP inactivation reveal its role as the main organiser of the Ter macrodomain: in the absence of MatP, DNA is less compacted, the mobility of markers is increased, and segregation of the Ter macrodomain occurs early in the cell cycle. A specific organisational system is required in the Terminus region for bacterial chromosome management during the cell cycle. This entry represents the N-terminal domain of MatP.

1: The MatP/matS site-specific system organizes the terminus region of the E. coli chromosome into a macrodomain. Mercier R, Petit MA, Schbath S, Robin S, El Karoui M, Boccard F, Espeli O; Cell. 2008;135:475-485. PMID:18984159