Co-removal of hexavalent chromium through adsorption during copper precipitation

A systematic study was conducted to assess the mechanisms involved in the co-removal of hexavalent chromium during chemical precipitation of divalent copper. Batch tests were used to assess the precipitation phenomena in both pure copper solutions and also mixed copper-Cr(VI) solutions with progressive addition of sodium carbonate to increase pH and induce precipitation. It was found that the co-removal of Cr(VI) was caused by two distinct mechanisms: coprecipitation of copper with Cr(VI) at pH 5.0 to 5.2, leading to the formation of CuCrO4 precipitates. Once the fine crystallites of CuCrO4 were formed, the test solution became heterogeneous and this accelerated the production of copper-carbonate precipitates, mainly in the form of CuCO3 Cu(OH)2, at pH 5.2 to 6.2. The latter precipitates were negatively charged at pH below 7.5, and thus they were able to adsorb a considerable amount of the remaining chromate ions [HCrO4- and CrO4(2-)]. The extent of adsorption depended on both pH and surface loading. Besides electrostatic attraction, ligand exchange was also found to play some role. Maximum adsorption occurred at pH 6.5. When pH was raised to 10.0, approximately 25-30% of the adsorbed chromium could become desorbed due to a surface charge reversal on the adsorbent.

Effect of estradiol on histone acetylation dynamics in human breast cancer cells

Histone acetylation plays an important role in remodeling chromatin structure, facilitating nuclear processes such as transcription. We investigated the effect of estradiol on global histone acetylation in hormone-responsive human breast cancer cells. Pulse-chase experiments and immunoblot analyses of dynamically acetylated histones show that estradiol rapidly increases histone acetylation in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, hormone-dependent T5, but not in ER-negative, hormone-independent MDA MB 231 breast cancer cells. The effect of estradiol on the rates of histone acetylation and deacetylation in T5 cells was determined. We found that estradiol increased the level of acetylated histones by reducing the rate of histone deacetylation, whereas the rate of histone acetylation was not altered. Enzymatic assays and immunoblot analyses of cell fractions showed that estradiol did not affect the level, subnuclear distribution, or activity of class I and II histone deacetylases. However, estradiol did alter the intranuclear distribution of ER and histone acetyltransferases, with both becoming tightly bound in the nucleus and associated with the nuclear matrix. We propose that, following the association of ER with nuclear matrix sites, ER alters the balance of histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases at these sites and the dynamics of acetylation of histones associated with transcriptionally active and competent chromatin.

Further formation of trihalomethanes in drinking water during heating

This study was aimed at investigating the further formation of trihalomethanes (THM) in drinking water when it is being heated at home. Experimental results confirmed that there could be a further significant formation during heating drinking water. Overall variation of THM concentration in water during the heating depended on its formation rate and volatilisation rate. The rate of THM formation was mainly affected by not only both the concentrations of THM precursors, such as humic substances and residual chlorine, but also temperature and reaction time. The rate of THM volatilisation depended on water temperature and the extent of water agitation in the water heaters. It was concluded that the THM residuals in drinking water could be effectively eliminated to a very low level, if the boiling of water was kept in the open for few minutes after water boiling.

CUG-initiated FGF-2 induces chromatin compaction in cultured cardiac myocytes and in vitro

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) is a mitogen found in CUG-initiated 21-25 kDa ("hi") or AUG-initiated 16-18 kDa ("lo") forms. Previously we demonstrated that "hi"-but not "lo"-FGF-2 caused a distinct nuclear phenotype characterized by apparently condensed chromatin present as separate clumps in the nucleus of cardiac myocytes. In this manuscript we investigated whether these effects were related to apoptosis or mitosis and whether they reflected a direct effect of "hi" FGF-2 on chromatin. Myocytes overexpressing "hi" FGF-2 and presenting the clumped chromatin phenotype: (i) were not labeled above background with antibodies to phosphorylated histones H1 and H3 used as indicators of mitotic chromatin condensation; (ii) did not stain positive for TUNEL; (iii) their nuclear lamina, visualized by anti-laminB immunofluorescence, appeared intact; (iv) neither caspase inhibitors, nor Bcl-2 or "lo" FGF-2 overexpression prevented the manifestation of the compacted nuclear phenotype. Purified recombinant "hi" FGF-2 was more potent than "lo" FGF-2 in promoting the condensation/aggregation of chick erythrocyte chromatin partially reconstituted with histone H1 in vitro. We conclude that the DNA phenotype induced by "hi" FGF-2 in cardiac myocytes likely reflects a direct effect on chromatin structure that does not require the engagement of mitosis or apoptosis. By affecting chromatin compaction "hi" FGF-2 may contribute to the regulation of gene expression.

[The design and evaluation of horizontal pipe mini-flame atomization and ionization synchronous detector in GC/AAS]

Gas chromatography/atomic absorption spectroscopy(GC/AAS) is a good method for the species analysis of organometallic compounds. But the traditional atomizers are not very suitable for this technology and all of them response only to one kind of signal--the concentration of the metallic atoms of the ground state. They can not give any information about the organic group of organometallic compounds and organic compounds which coexist with the former. For GC/AAS we want to design and manufacture a new kind of detector which is much more sensitive and has a much smaller dead volume and will sensitively and synchronously response to the atomization signal of organometallic compound and ionization signal of organic compound. The authors have noticed that the atomization of organometallic compound and ionization of organic compound have been existing in the same hydrogen flame. The question is how to gain and exchange and output the two signals which are completely different in characters. For this purpose we designed and manufactured a new type of horizontal pipe mini-flame atomization and ionization synchronous detector. The key part is a T type glass tube (80 mm x 13 mm x 10 mm i.d.) which covers horizontally on the jet of the mini-flame atomizer and a long pipe stainless steel collector (70 mm x 9.5 mm o.d. x 9 mm i.d.) is tightly inserted in the tube. The light beam of the hollow cathode lamp passes through the hydrogen flame along the axial center of the glass tube and the ground state metallic atoms in the flame diffuses to both ends of the tube along the axial center of the glass tube too. This process enriches the depth of the light absorption and then increases the sensitivity of atomization. At the same time the long pipe collector can enrich the collection efficiency of the ionization and increases the sensitivity and widens the linear range. So the detector can synchronously and sensitively detect the organometallic and organic compounds. The detection limit for atomization of the organometallic compound(diethylmercury) is 2.5 x 10(-11) g.s-1 and for ionization of the organic compound (benzene) is 1.0 x 10(-11) g.s-1. The linear range is 7.0 x 10(2) for atomization of diethylmercury (r = 0.9989) and 2.5 x 10(5) for ionization of benzene (r = 0.9992). The selectivity of the detector to the organic solvent under the optimum operating condition of atomization is 10(4)-10(7). The relative standard deviation (RSD, n = 11) of the peak area in the optimum operating conditions of atomization for the organometallic compound (diethylmercury) and of ionization for the organic compound (benzene) is 1.8% and 1.5% respectively. Under the same operating condition, the atomization and the ionization can not reach the optimum performance at the same time. If the atomization is in the optimum performance state, the performance for ionization is like a chromatographic thermal conductivity detector (TCD). The optimum performance of the atomization and ionization can be quickly adjusted by changing the flow rates of the corresponding gases such as H2, N2 and air.

The human factors YY1 and LSF repress the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 long terminal repeat via recruitment of histone deacetylase 1

Enigmatic mechanisms restore the resting state in activated lymphocytes following human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, rarely allowing persistent nonproductive infection. We detail a mechanism whereby cellular factors could establish virological latency. The transcription factors YY1 and LSF cooperate in repression of transcription from the HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR). LSF recruits YY1 to the LTR via the zinc fingers of YY1. The first two zinc fingers were observed to be sufficient for this interaction in vitro. A mutant of LSF incapable of binding DNA blocked repression. Like other transcriptional repressors, YY1 can function via recruitment of histone deacetylase (HDAC). We find that HDAC1 copurifies with the LTR-binding YY1-LSF repressor complex, the domain of YY1 that interacts with HDAC1 is required to repress the HIV-1 promoter, expression of HDAC1 augments repression of the LTR by YY1, and the deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A blocks repression mediated by YY1. This novel link between HDAC recruitment and inhibition of HIV-1 expression by YY1 and LSF, in the natural context of a viral promoter integrated into chromosomal DNA, is the first demonstration of a molecular mechanism of repression of HIV-1. YY1 and LSF may establish transcriptional and virological latency of HIV, a state that has recently been recognized in vivo and has significant implications for the long-term treatment of AIDS.

Organization of chromatin in cancer cells: role of signalling pathways

The role of mechanical and chemical signalling pathways in the organization and function of chromatin is the subject of this review. The mechanical signalling pathway consists of the tissue matrix system that links together the three-dimensional skeletal networks, the extracellular matrix, cytoskeleton, and nuclear matrix. Intermediate filament proteins are associated with nuclear DNA, suggesting that intermediate filaments may have a role in the organization of chromatin. In human hormone-dependent breast cancer cells, the interaction between cytokeratins and chromatin is regulated by estrogens. Transcription factors, histone acetyltransferases, and histone deacetylases, which are associated with the nuclear matrix, are components of the mechanical signalling pathway. Recently, we reported that nuclear matrix-bound human and chicken histone deacetylase 1 is associated with nuclear DNA in situ, suggesting that histone deacetylase has a role in the organization of nuclear DNA. Chemical signalling pathways such as the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (Ras/MAPK) pathway stimulate the activity of kinases that modify transcription factors, nonhistone chromosomal proteins, and histones. The levels of phosphorylated histones are increased in mouse fibroblasts transformed with oncogenes, the products of which stimulate the Ras/MAPK pathway. Histone phosphorylation may lead to decondensation of chromatin, resulting in aberrant gene expression.

Purification and characterization of chicken erythrocyte histone deacetylase 1

Histone acetylation is involved in nuclear processes requiring chromatin remodeling. In chicken erythrocytes, DNA replication has ceased, and active reversible histone acetylation is restricted to transcriptionally active/competent chromatin domains. In this study, we set out to identify and purify the erythroid histone deacetylase responsible for catalyzing dynamic acetylation of transcriptionally active chromatin. Histone deacetylase purified from chicken erythrocytes had a molecular mass of 66 kDa. Complementary DNA encoding the chicken histone deacetylase was cloned from erythrocytes, and analysis of the derived amino acid sequence showed the chicken histone deacetylase to be the chicken homologue of mammalian HDAC1. Purified chicken erythrocyte HDAC1 deacetylated the four core histones, with a preference for H3. We present evidence that chicken HDAC1 is a metalloenzyme, the activity of which is lost when incubated with zinc chelators. In Western blot analysis with anti-HDAC1 antibodies, we found that most erythrocyte HDAC1 is associated with the low-salt insoluble chromatin fraction and, to a lesser extent, with 150 mM NaCl-soluble oligo- and polynucleosomes. The distribution of HDAC1 in erythrocyte chromatin parallels that of dynamically acetylated class 1 histones. Further, we show that HDAC1 is associated with the erythroid nuclear matrix and that the enzyme is bound to nuclear DNA in situ. We propose that in addition to catalyzing dynamic acetylation of transcribed chromatin, the enzyme has a role in the organization of nuclear DNA.

Photoacoustic generation for a spherical absorber with impedance mismatch with the surrounding media

Pressure generation in a spherical absorber due to energy deposition from pulsed lasers is studied. For a variety of conditions, analytical solutions are derived that allow quick computation of exact results. For the special case of identical acoustic impedance, the pressure transient spreads to the surrounding medium by a single compressive pulse followed by a tensile pulse at the end of illumination. For the general case of impedance mismatch, the pressure transient is in the form of a series of dampened compressive and tensile pressure pulses. In this paper both the amplitude ratio and the sign of consecutive pressure pulses are determined analytically, and are shown to be dependent upon the impedance mismatch. For laser pulses of duration much less than the absorber's characteristic oscillation time, a stress confinement limit is reached for most of the absorber, but a sharp tensile stress in the core region of the sphere is predicted. This region of high stress is defined by r < or =r(c), and we show that r(c) is proportional to the laser pulse duration tau(0). Upon further shortening of the laser pulse duration, the strength of this tensile stress continues to increase while its spatial distribution is sharpened. This observation has relevance to a number of experiments where laser-induced pressure transients cause the absorber to fracture.

In situ cross-linking by cisplatin of nuclear matrix-bound transcription factors to nuclear DNA of human breast cancer cells

Cisplatin is an antitumor drug that is used to treat several types of cancers. In this study, we analyzed the proteins that were cross-linked to DNA in situ in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells incubated with cisplatin. We show that cisplatin cross-links nuclear matrix proteins to DNA. In immunoblotting experiments, we found that nuclear matrix-associated transcription factors and cofactors (estrogen receptor, HET/SAF-B, hnRNP K, and histone deacetylase 1) were cross-linked to nuclear DNA. These transcription factors and cofactors have essential roles in the regulation of genes involved in the proliferation of breast cancer cells and in the organization and structure of chromatin. We applied a novel protocol to demonstrate that the nuclear matrix-bound transcription factors/cofactors were cross-linked to DNA fragments attached to the nuclear matrix. These results suggest that the cross-linking of nuclear matrix-associated transcription factors and cofactors to DNA may be one of the mechanisms by which cisplatin inhibits transcription and replication processes.

SAP30, a component of the mSin3 corepressor complex involved in N-CoR-mediated repression by specific transcription factors

The transcriptional corepressor mSin3 is found in a large multiprotein complex containing the histone deacetylases HDAC1 and HDAC2, in addition to at least five tightly associated polypeptides. We have cloned and characterized a novel component of the mSin3 complex, SAP30, SAP30 binds to mSin3 and is capable of mediating transcriptional repression via histone deacetylases. SAP30 also binds the N-CoR corepressor and is required for N-CoR-mediated repression by antagonist-bound estrogen receptor and the homeodomain protein Rpx, as well as N-CoR suppression of transactivation by the POU domain protein Pit-1. However, SAP30 is not required for N-CoR-mediated repression by unliganded retinoic acid receptor or thyroid hormone receptor, suggesting that SAP30 is involved in the functional recruitment of the mSin3-histone deacetylase complex to a specific subset of N-CoR corepressor complexes.

Histone acetylation is required to maintain the unfolded nucleosome structure associated with transcribing DNA

Nucleosomes associated with transcribing chromatin of mammalian cells have an unfolded structure in which the normally buried cysteinyl-thiol group of histone H3 is exposed. In this study we analyzed transcriptionally active/competent DNA-enriched chromatin fractions from chicken mature and immature erythrocytes for the presence of thiol-reactive nucleosomes using organomercury-agarose column chromatography and hydroxylapatite dissociation chromatography of chromatin fractions labeled with [3H]iodoacetate. In mature and immature erythrocytes, the active DNA-enriched chromatin fractions are associated with histones that are rapidly highly acetylated and rapidly deacetylated. When histone deacetylation was prevented by incubating cells with histone deacetylase inhibitors, sodium butyrate or trichostatin A, thiol-reactive H3 of unfolded nucleosomes was detected in the soluble chromatin and nuclear skeleton-associated chromatin of immature, but not mature, erythrocytes. We did not find thiol-reactive nucleosomes in active DNA-enriched chromatin fractions of untreated immature erythrocytes that had low levels of highly acetylated histones H3 and H4 or in chromatin of immature cells incubated with inhibitors of transcription elongation. This study shows that transcription elongation is required to form, and histone acetylation is needed to maintain, the unfolded structure of transcribing nucleosomes.

Ubiquitination of histone H3 in elongating spermatids of rat testes

Because of the potential role of histone ubiquitination in altering chromatin structure, we characterized the levels of ubiquitination of specific histones in meiotic and postmeiotic germ cells in rat testes by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The levels of the major ubiquitinated histone forms, mono- and poly-ubiquitinated H2A, were highest in the pachytene spermatocyte stage, declined thereafter through the round spermatid stage, and reached their lowest levels in elongating spermatids. Three additional ubiquitinated histone species, besides H2A, were detected using anti-ubiquitin antibodies specifically in the fraction enriched in elongating spermatids. Based on their electrophoretic mobilities, they corresponded to uH3, uTH3, and uH2B. Polyubiquitinated forms of these proteins were also observed. The identity of these proteins was confirmed by immunoblotting with anti-H3 antisera and by differential extraction of the proteins from the nucleus with increasing salt concentrations. This is the first report of ubiquitination of H3 in vivo. We speculate that its ubiquitination could loosen the nucleosome structure in preparation for histone removal, be a consequence of nucleosome relaxation or disruption caused by other means, or target H3 for degradation.

Estrogen receptor diminishes DNA-binding activities of chicken GATA-1 and CACCC-binding proteins

The estrogen receptor (ER) repressed erythroid differentiation and erythroid-specific gene expression. In this study, we investigated the effect of ER alpha (referred to throughout as ER) on DNA-binding activities of transcription factors involved in regulating the expression of erythroid-specific genes, and, in particular, the histone H5 gene. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we found that in the presence of rabbit reticulocyte lysate, human ER reduced the binding activities of chicken immature erythrocyte nuclear extracted proteins to GATA and CACCC sites in the H5 promoter and enhancer. In contrast, the binding activities of NF1 and Sp1 were not affected by ER. Binding of ER to an estrogen response element was enhanced by addition of rabbit reticulocyte lysate. This lysate was also necessary for ER to diminish the DNA-binding activity of GATA-1. These results suggest that additional factor(s) are necessary for full ER function. Both GATA-1 and CACCC-binding proteins are critical for the developmentally regulated expression of erythroid-specific genes. We hypothesize that interference in DNA-binding activities of GATA-1 and CACCC-binding proteins is the mechanism by which the ER inhibits regulation of these genes.

Isolation and characterization of cDNAs corresponding to an additional member of the human histone deacetylase gene family

Several human cDNAs encoding a histone deacetylase protein, HDAC3, have been isolated. Analysis of the predicted amino acid sequence of HDAC3 revealed an open reading frame of 428 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 49 kDa. The HDAC3 protein is 50% identical in DNA sequence and 53% identical in protein sequence compared with the previously cloned human HDAC1. Comparison of the HDAC3 sequence with human HDAC2 also yielded similar results, with 51% identity in DNA sequence and 52% identity in protein sequence. The expressed HDAC3 protein is functionally active because it possesses histone deacetylase activity, represses transcription when tethered to a promoter, and binds transcription factor YY1. Similar to HDAC1 and HDAC2, HDAC3 is ubiquitously expressed in many different cell types.

Histone deacetylases associated with the mSin3 corepressor mediate mad transcriptional repression

Transcriptional repression by Mad-Max heterodimers requires interaction of Mad with the corepressors mSin3A/B. Sin3p, the S. cerevisiae homolog of mSin3, functions in the same pathway as Rpd3p, a protein related to two recently identified mammalian histone deacetylases, HDAC1 and HDAC2. Here, we demonstrate that mSin3A and HDAC1/2 are associated in vivo. HDAC2 binding requires a conserved region of mSin3A capable of mediating transcriptional repression. In addition, Mad1 forms a complex with mSin3 and HDAC2 that contains histone deacetylase activity. Trichostatin A, an inhibitor of histone deacetylases, abolishes Mad repression. We propose that Mad-Max functions by recruiting the mSin3-HDAC corepressor complex that deacetylates nucleosomal histones, producing alterations in chromatin structure that block transcription.

Changes in the nuclear matrix of chicken erythrocytes that accompany maturation

The protein composition and structure of nuclear matrices isolated from adult chicken immature and mature erythrocytes were analysed. Visualization of nuclear matrices by electron microscopy showed that immature-erythrocyte nuclear matrices had internal structures, while most mature-erythrocyte nuclear matrices did not. Both mature- and immature-erythrocyte nuclear matrices were surrounded by a fibrous network of intermediate filaments. Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis of proteins obtained from fractionated nuclear matrices led to the assignment of the proteins as components of the nuclear porelamina, internal matrix, or cytoskeleton. Common and different proteins belonging to one of the three groups were identified in nuclear matrices of immature and mature erythrocytes. Investigation of the partitioning of histone deacetylase activity, an enzyme associated with the internal matrix, among the erythroid nuclear matrix fractions provided evidence that mature- and immature-erythrocyte nuclear matrices have internal structures. However, the activity of histone deacetylase and level of internal matrix proteins from mature-erythrocyte nuclear matrices were less than those from immature-erythrocyte matrices. The low levels of nuclear RNA and internal matrix proteins may account for lack of visual evidence for an internal matrix in mature erythrocytes.

Developmental changes in transcription factors associated with the nuclear matrix of chicken erythrocytes

The nuclear matrix has roles in organizing nuclear DNA and in controlling transcription. Transcription factors are associated with the nuclear matrix, with the spectra of transcription factors differing from one cell type to another. In this study we identified the transcription factors and enzymes functioning in the regulation of gene expression that were associated with nuclear matrix and nonmatrix nuclear fractions in erythrocytes isolated from chick embryos at different stages of development, anemic and normal adult birds. We found that the primitive erythroid nuclear matrix had the greatest histone deacetylase activity and highest levels of several transcription factors, including GATA-1, CACCC-binding proteins, and NF1. These transcription factors have key roles in erythroid-specific gene expression. The levels of these transcription factors were lower in the nonmatrix and matrix fractions isolated from definitive erythrocytes. For primitive and definitive erythrocytes, the level of CACCC-binding proteins in the nuclear matrix fraction was greater than that of Sp1. The relative levels of these transcription factors were reversed in the nonmatrix fraction. Casein kinase II was not found in erythroid nuclear matrices. The observed erythroid lineage specific alterations in erythroid nuclear matrix transcription factor composition and abundance may be involved in erythroid-specific gene expression.

Alcohol level at head injury and subsequent psychotropic treatment during trauma critical care

Alcohol intoxication at the time of traumatic brain injury (TBI) presents many complications for critical care treatment. This is the first reported data on psychotropic dosages administered to TBI patients in the critical care setting. In this study, the blood alcohol level (BAL)-positive patients (n = 14) tended to be older (P = 0.095), have lower admission Glascow Coma Scores (P = 0.031), and spent more days on respirators (P = 0.125) than the BAL-zero patients (n = 21). The BAL-positive group received more days of narcotics and benzodiazepines with markedly higher average daily doses, not statistically significant. These results are a basis for studying relationships between medication, treatment variables, and outcomes for TBI patients and then developing specific medication guidelines.

In situ footprinting of chicken histone H5 gene in mature and immature erythrocytes reveals common factor-binding sites

In vitro DNAase I footprinting and gel mobility shift assays have shown that the activities of several nuclear factors (GATA-1, Sp1) that bind to the promoter and downstream enhancer regions of the chicken histone H5 gene are reduced in mature erythrocytes relative to those in immature erythrocytes. In this study we investigated site occupancy in the promoter and downstream enhancer regions of the H5 gene in mature and immature erythrocytes. The ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction was used to detect DNAase I footprints generated in situ. Most of the sites that bound to Sp1 and/or Sp1-like proteins and GATA-1 in the promoter and enhancer were occupied in situ in mature and immature erythrocytes. However, the level of protection at Sp1/Sp-1-like binding sites in the H5 enhancer region of mature erythroid cells was generally less than that observed for immature cells, suggesting that for any given mature cell not all of the Sp1/Sp1-like binding sites are occupied. Nevertheless, the results of this study suggest that the enhancer and promoter of the H5 gene in mature erythrocytes should be functional, agreeing with nuclear run-on studies showing transcriptional activity of the H5 gene in mature permeabilized cells.

Analysis of human breast cancer nuclear proteins binding to the promoter elements of the c-myc gene

The expression of the c-myc gene is essential for the proliferation of both hormone-dependent and -independent human breast cancer cells. The regulation of c-myc gene expression in MCF-7 (hormone-dependent, estrogen-receptor (ER)-positive) and MDA MB 231 (hormone-independent, ER-negative) human breast cancer cells differs, with the c-myc gene of MCF-7 but not MDA MB 231 cells being regulated at the transcriptional level by estrogen. We have shown previously that the DNAase I hypersensitive (DH) sites in the c-myc chromatin of hormone-dependent and -independent human breast cancer cells were similar, with the exception of DH site II2. DH site II2, which maps near the P0 promoter, was less sensitive in hormone-dependent than in hormone-independent cells. As DH sites generally indicate the presence of sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins, we undertook a study to identify the nuclear proteins isolated from MCF-7 and MDA MB 231 cells that bound to the P0 and P2 promoter regions of the c-myc gene in vitro. The studies presented here provide evidence that Sp1 and/or Sp1-like proteins bind to the P0 and P2 promoter regions of the c-myc gene of MCF-7 and MDA MB 231 cells. Furthermore, evidence is presented for the presence of several previously unidentified sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins binding to these promoters. The DNA-binding activities of these latter proteins differed in the nuclear extracts of the MCF-7 and MDA MB 231 human breast cancer cells.

Histone acetyltransferase is associated with the nuclear matrix

Only a small fraction of the adult chicken erythrocyte histones is involved in dynamic acetylation. We have reported previously that the rapidly acetylated and deacetylated H4 histones are primarily associated with the transcriptionally active DNA-enriched chromatin fragments that remain attached to the residual nuclear material following micrococcal nuclease digestion and chromatin solubilization. Furthermore, this nuclear fraction contained most of the histone deacetylase activity. In this study we show that the bulk of the nuclear histone acetyltransferase activity is located with the insoluble residual nuclear material. We demonstrate that in vitro the enzymes associated with the residual nuclear material catalyze reversible acetylation when the endogenous histones of the nuclear skeleton-bound chromatin fragments are used as substrate. Nuclear matrices isolated from adult chicken immature erythrocyte and trout liver nuclei had 60-76% of the nuclear histone acetyltransferase activity. Procedures that solubilized the internal nuclear matrix also resulted in the release of the enzyme from the nuclear matrix. Together, our observations suggest that histone acetyltransferase and deacetylase are associated with the internal nuclear matrix, and one of the functions of these enzymes may be to mediate a dynamic attachment between transcriptionally active chromatin and the nuclear matrix.

Nuclear factor 1 is a component of the nuclear matrix

Chicken histone H5 is an H1-like linker histone that is expressed only in nucleated erythrocytes. The histone H5 promoter has binding sites for Sp1 (a high affinity site) and UPE-binding protein, while the 3' erythroid-specific enhancer has binding sites for Sp1 (one moderate and three weak affinity), GATA-1, and NF1. In this study we investigated whether trans-acting factors that bind to the chicken histone H5 promoter or enhancer are associated with adult chicken immature and mature erythrocyte nuclear matrices. We show that NF1, but not Sp1, GATA-1, or UPE-binding protein, is associated with the internal nuclear matrices of these erythroid cells. Further, we found that a subset of the NF1 family of proteins is bound to the mature erythrocyte nuclear matrix. These results suggest that in chicken erythrocytes NF1 may mediate an interaction between the histone H5 enhancer and the erythroid internal nuclear matrix. NF1 was also present in the internal nuclear matrices of chicken liver and trout liver. The observations of this study provide evidence that NF1 may have a role in a variety of cell types in targeting specific DNA sequences to the nuclear matrix.