Comparison of the high-mobility-group chromosomal proteins in rainbow-trout (Salmo gairdnerii) liver and testis

Oncorhyncin III: a potent antimicrobial peptide derived from the non-histone chromosomal protein H6 of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

The partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of the antimicrobial peptide reported in the present paper has been submitted to the TrEMBL database under the accession number P83338. A 6.7 kDa antimicrobial peptide was isolated from trout skin secretions using acid extraction followed by cation-exchange chromatography, (t)C(18) solid-phase extraction, and C(18) reversed-phase HPLC. The molecular mass of this peptide, which is tentatively named oncorhyncin III, is 6671 Da, as determined by matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization MS. N-terminal amino acid sequencing revealed that the first 13 residues of oncorhyncin III are identical with those of the non-histone chromosomal protein H6 from rainbow trout. Hence these data combined with the MS results indicate that oncorhyncin III is likely to be a cleavage product of the non-histone chromosomal protein H6 (residues 1-66) and that it probably contains two methylated residues or one double methylation. The purified peptide exhibits potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with minimal inhibitory concentrations in the submicromolar range. The peptide is sensitive to NaCl, and displays no haemolytic activity towards trout erythrocytes at concentrations below 1 microM. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that oncorhyncin III does not cause direct disruption of bacterial cells. Reconstitution of the peptide in planar lipid bilayers strongly disturbs the membranes, but does not induce the formation of stable ion channels. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that oncorhyncin III plays a role in mucosal innate host defence.

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 proteins in skeletal muscle of pre- and postsmolt salmon (Salmo salar)

HMG proteins were extracted from whole skeletal muscle of pre- and postsmolt salmon (Salmo salar). The proteins were identified by SDS and acid-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Semi-quantitative analysis revealed an increase in the ratio of HMG H6 to F protein and of HMG T to HMG H6 protein in the postsmolt as compared with the presmolt stage of the salmon. The results demonstrate a change in relative amounts of skeletal muscle HMG proteins which was dependent on the developmental stage of the fish.

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.