Evidence for two conformational forms of nonhistone protein BA which differ in their affinity for DNA

Chromosomal proteins of Physarum polycephalum with preferential affinity for the sequence, poly d(A-T).poly d(A-T)

We have identified two novel chromosomal proteins from Physarum polycephalum using a protein blotting DNA-binding assay. A fraction of these proteins was readily released from nuclei by solutions of moderate ionic strength (0.15 N-0.35 M NaCl) or mild nuclease treatment and appear associated with chromatin that is nucleosome-free. A significant proportion of these proteins, however, was not released from nuclei by solutions of high ionic strength (1.6 M NaCl) or treatment with excess nuclease. These results suggest that these chromosomal proteins are distributed between transcriptionally-competent and inert domains of chromatin. Both proteins preferentially and tenaciously bound duplex DNA, especially to the alternating B-DNA conformation displayed by the synthetic sequence, poly d(A-T).poly d(A-T).

A binding protein (p82 protein) recognizes specifically the curved heterochromatic DNA in Artemia franciscana

DNA bending has been suggested to play a role in the regulation of gene expression, initiation of DNA replication, site specific recombination and DNA packaging. In Artemia franciscana (Phillopoda anostraca) cells we have revealed that an AluI DNA family of repeats, 113-bp in length, is the major component of the constitutive heterochromatin found in the species. By analysis of cloned oligomeric (monomer to hexamer) heterochromatic fragments and electrophoretic experiments we verified that the repetitive DNA shows a stable curvature that confers a solenoidal geometry to the double helix. Using the cloned monomeric fragment, as molecular probe, we describe the detection in an A. franciscana cell extract of a protein of 82 kDa (p82) that preferentially binds to heterochromatic DNA. This protein, purified of the other DNA binding proteins present in the crude cell extract, shows a greater affinity with the tandem copies of the AluI DNA fragment than with the monomer sequence. The binding of p82 protein to heterochromatic DNA is also drastically reduced in the presence of the antibiotic distamycin A, suggesting a role of the DNA curvature in the formation of the nucleoproteic complex.

Microinjected glutathione S-transferase Yb subunits translocate to the cell nucleus

We have previously shown that a 30 kDa DNA-binding protein isolated from rat cell nuclei exhibits the chemical and immunological properties of glutathione S-transferase Yb subunits [Bennett, Spector & Yeoman (1986) J. Cell Biol. 102, 600-609]. It was of interest, therefore, to determine whether Yb subunits isolated from rat liver nuclei would return to nuclear fractions upon reintroduction to cell cytoplasms via red-blood-cell-mediated fusion. Labelled Yb subunits were associated with nuclear fractions 60 min after cell fusion. The microinjected protein remained associated with the nuclei for 18 h and was not extractable with low-salt washes. In addition, injected Yb subunits were found to equally distribute between extractable (56%) and residual (44%) nuclear fractions. These experiments demonstrate that glutathione S-transferase Yb subunits isolated from nuclei rapidly translocate to nuclei upon reintroduction into cell cytoplasms.

Nonhistone protein BA is a glutathione S-transferase localized to interchromatinic regions of the cell nucleus

A DNA-binding nonhistone protein, protein BA, was previously demonstrated to co-localize with U-snRNPs within discrete nuclear domains (Bennett, F. C., and L. C. Yeoman, 1985, Exp. Cell Res., 157:379-386). To further define the association of protein BA and U-snRNPs within these discrete nuclear domains, cells were fractionated in situ and the localization of the antigens determined by double-labeled immunofluorescence. Protein BA was extracted from the nucleus with the 2.0 M NaCl soluble chromatin fraction, while U-snRNPs were only partially extracted from the 2.0 M NaCl-resistant nuclear structures. U-snRNPs were extracted from the residual nuclear material by combined DNase I/RNase A digestions. Using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique and electron microscopy, protein BA was localized to interchromatinic regions of the cell nucleus. Protein BA was noted to share a number of chemical and physical properties with a family of cytoplasmic enzymes, the glutathione S-transferases. Comparison of the published amino acid composition of protein BA and glutathione S-transferases showed marked similarities. Nonhistone protein BA isolated from saline-EDTA nuclear extracts exhibited glutathione S-transferase activity with a variety of substrates. Substrate specificity and subunit analysis by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that it was a mixture of several glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes. Protein BA isolated from rat liver chromatin was shown by immunoblotting and peptide mapping techniques to be two glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes composed of the Yb and Yb' subunits. Glutathione S-transferase Yb subunits were demonstrated to be both nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins by indirect immunolocalization on rat liver cryosections. The identification of protein BA as glutathione S-transferase suggests that this family of multifunctional enzymes may play an important role in those nuclear domains containing U-snRNPs.

Co-localization of non-histone protein BA with U-snRNPs to the same regions of the cell nucleus

Using indirect immunofluorescence, nuclear non-histone protein BA was localized in a normal rat liver cell line. Protein BA antibodies immunostained nuclear structures producing a speckled immunofluorescent staining pattern. Nuclear structures stained with protein BA antibodies were sensitive to DNase I digestion, but not to RNase. The speckled pattern of nuclear fluorescence observed with protein BA antibodies was similar to that reported earlier for Sm antibodies, which react with U-snRNPs. Using double-label indirect immunofluorescence, the Sm antigen was shown to be concentrated in the same regions of the nucleus which contain protein BA. Immunoblot analysis of total nuclear proteins with the two antibodies demonstrated that protein BA and the major Sm antigen have similar molecular weights, but are antigenically distinct. In addition, they differ in their extractabilities from the cell nucleus.

A protein binds to a satellite DNA repeat at three specific sites that would be brought into mutual proximity by DNA folding in the nucleosome

Using a generally applicable assay for specific DNA-binding proteins in crude extracts, we have detected and purified an HMG-like nuclear protein from African green monkey cells that preferentially binds to the 172 bp repeat of alpha-satellite DNA (alpha-DNA). DNAase I footprinting with the purified protein detects three specific binding sites (I-III) per alpha-DNA repeat. Site II is 145 bp (one core nucleosome length) from site III on the adjacent alpha-DNA repeat, while site I lies midway between sites II and III. In the alpha-nucleosome phasing frame corresponding with this arrangement, sites I-III would be brought into mutual proximity by DNA folding in the nucleosome. This phasing frame is identical with the preferred frame detected previously in isolated chromatin. Our results suggest that this new and abundant protein recognizes a family of short, related nucleotide sequences found not only in alpha-DNA but also throughout the genome, and that functions of this protein are mediated through its nucleosome-positioning activity. Such nucleosome-positioning proteins may underlie the sequence specificity of both nucleosome arrangements and higher order chromatin structures.

Changes in liver nuclear sap proteins during chick embryo development

Nuclear sap proteins from liver of 12-, 15-, 19-day-old embryos and 1-day-old chicks were resolved by one-and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Although the protein patterns from various stages of development have remarkable similarities, some qualitative and quantitative differences were found among these patterns. The most pronounced changes were detected in protein with molecular weight of 100 K which was very abundant in nuclei of 12-day-old embryos and disappeared in nuclei of older embryos and in protein with molecular weight of 40 K which rapidly diminished after hatching.

An improved procedure for the 'dot immunobinding' analysis of hybridoma supernatants

The recently introduced dot immunobinding assay is well suited as a rapid and sensitive procedure for the analysis of those hybridoma clones that are producers of a specific antibody. We present a modification of the dot immunobinding assay which utilizes a single nitrocellulose sheet for up to 96 assays. By using a single nitrocellulose sheet, sample manipulation is greatly reduced, reaction conditions can be better standardized and a comparison of background reactivities is provided. Results are presented which demonstrate the effectiveness of this modified dot immunobinding assay.

Protein D1 preferentially binds A + T-rich DNA in vitro and is a component of Drosophila melanogaster nucleosomes containing A + T-rich satellite DNA

Our previous work [Levinger, L. & Varshavsky, A. (1982) Cell 28, 375-385] has shown that D1, a 50-kilodalton chromosomal protein of Drosophila melanogaster, is specifically associated with isolated nucleosomes that contain a complex A + T-rich satellite DNA with buoyant density of 1.688 g/ml. We show here that D1 is also a component of nucleosomes containing a simple-sequence, pure A + T satellite DNA, buoyant density 1.672 g/ml. Furthermore, using a modification of a protein blotting technique in which proteins are not exposed to dodecyl sulfate denaturation, we have found that D1 preferentially binds to A + T-rich double-stranded DNA in vitro, and it is apparently the only abundant nuclear protein in cultured D. melanogaster cells that possesses this property. Synthetic poly[d(A-T)].poly[d(A-T)] and poly(dA).poly(dT) duplexes effectively compete in vitro with A + T-rich D. melanogaster satellite DNAs for binding to D1, whereas total Escherichia coli DNA is an extremely poor competitor. These findings strongly suggest that D1 is a specific component of A + T-rich, tandemly repeated, heterochromatic regions, which constitute up to 15-20% of the total D. melanogaster genome. Possible functions of D1 protein include compaction of A + T-rich heterochromatin and participation in microtubule-centromere interactions in mitosis. In addition, D1 may prevent nonspecific binding to A + T-rich satellite DNA of other nuclear proteins that have a preference for AT-DNA, such as RNA polymerase or regulatory proteins, and may also participate in the higher-order chromatin organization outside tandemly repetitive regions by binding to nonrandomly positioned stretches of A + T-rich DNA.