Trout liver high mobility group non-histone chromosomal proteins

Characterization and chromatin distribution of the H1 histones and high-mobility-group non-histone chromosomal proteins of trout liver and hepatocellular carcinoma

The H1 histones serve as general repressors of gene expression by inducing the formation of a compact chromatin structure, whereas the high-mobility-group (HMG) non-histone chromosomal proteins have roles in maintaining the structure and function of transcriptionally active chromatin. The distribution of the H1 histone subtypes and HMG proteins among various trout tissues (liver, hepatocellular carcinoma, testis and erythrocyte) was determined. Histone H1b was present in the chromatin of liver, but not in the chromatin of hepatocellular carcinoma, testis or erythrocyte. Nuclease-resistant regions of liver chromatin had elevated levels of histone H1b. Histone H1b was isolated, and the N-terminal amino acid sequence of histone H1b was found to be highly similar to that of mammalian histone H1(0) and duck H5. HMG proteins T1, T2, T3, H6, C, D and F were associated with liver and hepatocellular-carcinoma chromatin, with hepatocellular carcinoma containing higher levels of HMG T1 and F. Testis and erythrocyte had HMG T2 and H6 as their predominant HMG proteins. Most of the HMG H6 of hepatocellular carcinoma, but not of liver, was located in a chromatin fraction that was soluble at physiological ionic strength and enriched in transcriptionally active DNA. These alterations in the chromatin distribution and content of hepatocyte HMG proteins and H1 histone subtypes may contribute to aberrant hepatocyte gene expression in the hepatocellular carcinoma.

High mobility group (HMG) proteins in the tammar wallaby Macropus eugenii: quantitative variations between tissues and testis-specific co-extracted proteins

1. Tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii, Marsupialia) proteins with similar electrophoretic mobilities to calf non-histone chromosomal proteins HMG 1, 2, 14 and 17 are perchloric acid extracted from whole tissues (liver, kidney, spleen, brain and testis) and purified liver nuclei (using PCA or 0.35 M NaCl). 2. Tammar and calf HMG 1 have similar amino acid compositions. 3. Two testis-specific basic proteins co-extracting with HMG-like proteins from both tammar and red kangaroo (Megaleia rufa) are found in whole testis, purified testis nuclei, but not epididymis. 4. Tammar HMG 2 separates into two components on both acid urea and SDS gels. The larger, more basic protein, HMG 2b, is relatively abundant in proliferating tissues (testis, spleen).

Purification of non-histone acceptor proteins for ADP-ribose from mouse testis nuclei

Acceptor proteins for poly(ADP-ribose) have been purified from mouse testis nuclei. Nuclear proteins were labelled in vitro with [14C]ribose and [3H]adenine, extracted with 5% (v/v) HClO4 and 0.25 M-HCl and separated by ion-exchange chromatography. Non-histone proteins were found to be the major acceptors in both the 5% (w/v)-HClO4-soluble and 5%-HClO4-insoluble HCl-extractable fractions. Of the two groups of non-histone proteins associated with chromatin, the LMG (low-mobility-group) proteins were preferentially ADP-ribosylated. HMG (high-mobility group) proteins were labelled to lower specific radioactivity. Six LMG proteins were purified to approx. 90% homogeneity and were identified from their mobility on polyacrylamide gels at pH 2.9 and from their amino acid composition. The average length of the poly(ADP-ribose) chain was estimated to be four to six repeating ADP-ribose units. It is suggested that ADP-ribosylation of LMG proteins, a long-neglected group of chromatin-associated proteins, is important during spermatogenesis for the production of spermatozoa with intact and competent DNA.

Heterogeneity of proteins resembling high-mobility-group protein HMG-T in trout testes nuclei

Two proteins, HMG-T1 and HMG-T2, with electrophoretic mobilities and compositions similar to those of protein HMG-T, were isolated from trout testes nuclei. The isoelectric points of proteins HMG-T1, HMG-T2 and HMG-T differ. The first 20 residues of protein HMG-T2 have been sequenced and differ from protein HMG-T by only one residue.