A new target for an old regulator: H-NS represses transcription of bolA morphogene by direct binding to both promoters

► Expression of the bolA gene is important for cell survival during stress conditions. ► bolA morphogene is tightly controlled at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. ► H-NS represses bolA morphogene transcription in vivo. ► This repression is due to a direct cooperative binding of H-NS to the two bolA promoters. ► The H-NS interaction zone is curved, AT-rich and covers the two promoters of the bolA gene.