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DNA-binding properties of nuclear matrix proteins.

Mouse nuclear matrix proteins, examined by a filter assay, were found to bind to DNA. There was no preference for homologous mouse compared to heterologous E. coli DNA. Competition assays showed a preference for AT-rich DNA and of the 4 single-stranded homopolymers there was a preference for poly(dT). These observations are consistent with the possibility that the matrix may play a role in the formation of AT-rich chromomeres (G-bands).

Animals↗

Endogenous polymers of ADP-ribose are associated with the nuclear matrix.

The metabolism of nuclear polymers of ADP-ribose has been implicated in several chromatin-associated processes. However, the distribution of endogenous ADP-ribose polymers in the nucleus or within different fractions of chromatin has not been studied. Using a procedure which allowed the radiolabeling and detection of endogenous polymers of ADP-ribose, we have analyzed the nuclear distribution of these polymers in untreated cells and in cells subjected to hyperthermia, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, or both. When isolated nuclei from cells subjected to any of these conditions were digested with micrococcal nuclease such that 80% of the DNA was released, 90% of the total poly(ADP-ribose) remained with the micrococcal nuclease resistant chromatin fraction. When nuclear matrix fractions were prepared by exhaustive DNase I digestion in combination with three different salt extraction procedures (2 M NaCl, 300 mM (NH4)2SO4 or 25 mM lithium diiodosalicylate), the matrices contained less than 1% of the total nuclear DNA but 50 to 70% of the total poly(ADP-ribose). These data suggest that the nuclear matrix may be a major site of poly(ADP-ribose) metabolism.

Animals↗

Nuclear matrix from resting and concanavalin A-stimulated human lymphocytes.

Concanavalin A-induced transformation and proliferation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes was found to be accompanied by morphological and biochemical changes of the nuclear matrix. Nuclear matrix spheres increased in size as well as in protein and RNA content. Experimental data suggesting the involvement of the nuclear matrix in DNA replication processes are also presented.

Cell Nucleus↗

The role of the nuclear matrix in cancer chemotherapy.

The nuclear matrix is the site of many nuclear functions including transcription, replication, formation of chromatin loops, and control of DNA supercoiling. It contains various structural and functional components that represent targets for antineoplastic agents. Antimetabolites and topoisomerase II inhibitors interact specifically with matrix-associated enzymes, DNA primase, and DNA topoisomerase II, respectively. Alkylating agents and ionizing radiation interact with nuclear matrix proteins and matrix-associated DNA. Many nuclear functions, including multidrug resistance, and others which lead to cell death, have been shown to be compromised when these anticancer agents interact with the nuclear matrix.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Nuclear matrix in developing rat spermatogenic cells.

The nonchromatin structure or nuclear matrix in developing spermatogenic cells of the rat was studied using a biochemical fractionation in concert with resinless section electron microscopy. Observations demonstrated that the nuclear matrix of spermatogenic cells consisted of a three-dimensional network of filaments of variable thicknesses. In spermatogonia and spermatocytes the nuclear matrix consisted of relatively thin filaments, while that of round spermatids consisted of a thicker interconnecting network of filament. In elongating spermatids, the interior of the nuclear matrix consisted of a network of dense filaments bounded by a peripheral lamina. The protein composition of the nuclear matrix in spermatogenic cells was examined by high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and correlated with morphological changes characteristic of each stage. The results showed that the proteins of nuclear matrix changed in a cell stage-specific manner. These stage-specific changes corresponded to the major transitions of chromatin structure and function during spermatogenesis. Furthermore, immunocytochemical and immunoblotting analysis of DNA topoisomerase II (topo II) revealed that this enzyme exhibited stage-specific variations and was associated with the nuclear matrix. These results suggest that the nuclear matrix in spermatogenic cells may be involved in mediating DNA modifications and maintaining nuclear organization during spermatogenesis. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 59:314-321, 2001.

Animals↗

A common set of nuclear matrix proteins in prostate cancer cells.

The nuclear matrix is the RNA-protein network which forms the skeleton of the nucleus, and participates in DNA organization as well as in multiple cellular functions. Nuclear matrix proteins have been demonstrated to be tissue and cell type specific, as well as to reflect the state of cell differentiation and/or transformation. Previously, common nuclear matrix proteins were demonstrated between the rat prostate and the Dunning rat prostate adenocarcinoma cell lines. This study demonstrates that nuclear matrices derived from Dunning rat and human prostate cancer cell lines, as well as human tumors, share several common proteins. These common proteins suggest that alterations which occur in the nuclear matrix with prostate cell transformation may share a common basis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Nuclei that lack a lamina accumulate karyophilic proteins and assemble a nuclear matrix.

Xenopus egg extracts, which support nuclear assembly and DNA replication in vitro, were physically depleted of lamin B3 using monoclonal antibodies linked to magnetic beads. Depleted extracts were still able to support nuclear envelope assembly around demembranated sperm heads but the resulting pronuclei lacked a lamina and were unable to initiate semiconservative DNA replication or to assemble replicases, confirming previous data. Immunoblotting analysis of isolated nuclei and nuclear matrix fractions indicated that lamin-depleted nuclei still accumulated nucleoporins and PCNA. Furthermore, the rate of PCNA uptake was identical in lamin-depleted and control nuclei. However, neither the nucleoporins nor the PCNA was associated with nuclear matrix fractions. The major protein components of sperm pronuclear matrix fractions were characterized by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Of these proteins only three out of 22 species, other than the lamins, were significantly reduced in lamin-depleted nuclei, indicating that these nuclei do assemble a nuclear matrix.

Animals↗

Steroid hormone receptor localization in the nuclear matrix: interaction with acceptor sites.

The nuclear matrix is a conceptually attractive candidate for the site in the nucleus where steroid hormone-receptor complexes might interact to modulate DNA structure and function. We have demonstrated that in sex steroid target tissues a major proportion (50-100%) of the high affinity and steroid-specific receptors that become associated with the nucleus following hormonal stimulation are localized in the nuclear matrix. Direct cell-free binding assays confirm that this localization is due to the presence of specific acceptor sites in the matrix to which steroid-receptor complexes bind with high affinity and tissue specificity, and is not the result of spurious binding. The nuclear matrix appears to be a major site of hormone receptor binding in the nucleus, and this situation is consistent with the known ability of steroid hormones to stimulate gene transcription, a process which also appears to occur in association with the nuclear matrix.

Animals↗

Preferential association of acidic actin with nuclei and nuclear matrix from mouse leukemia L5178Y cells.

Nuclear matrix prepared from mouse leukemia L5178Y cells contained not only the two common actin isomers, beta and gamma actins, but also two additional acidic species of actin (pI 5.1 and 5.3). An anti-actin antibody recognized these acidic species as well as beta and gamma actins on a nitrocellulose filter following western blotting of two-dimensional electrophoresis. These acidic species were co-purified with beta and gamma actins using DNase I-Sepharose affinity chromatography on the nuclear matrix. Limited digestion of the acidic actin with protease V8 or trypsin gave very similar peptide fragments as did digestion of beta and gamma actins. These acidic actins were found to be distributed in the nuclear fraction, but were scarcely detectable in the cytoplasmic fraction. One of the acidic actins (pI 5.3) was found in all subnuclear fractions (DNase extract, high-salt extract and nuclear matrix), while the other species, the most acidic actin (pI 5.1), was localized predominantly in the nuclear matrix.

Actins↗

The homeodomain coordinates nuclear entry of the Lhx3 neuroendocrine transcription factor and association with the nuclear matrix.

LIM homeodomain transcription factors regulate development in complex organisms. To characterize the molecular signals required for the nuclear localization of these proteins, we examined the Lhx3 factor. Lhx3 is essential for pituitary organogenesis and motor neuron specification. By using functional fluorescent derivatives, we demonstrate that Lhx3 is found in both the nucleoplasm and nuclear matrix. Three nuclear localization signals were mapped within the homeodomain, and one was located in the carboxyl terminus. The homeodomain also serves as the nuclear matrix targeting sequence. No individual signal is alone required for nuclear localization of Lhx3; the signals work in combinatorial fashion. Specific combinations of these signals transferred nuclear localization to cytoplasmic proteins. Mutation of nuclear localization signals within the homeodomain inhibited Lhx3 transcriptional function. By contrast, mutation of the carboxyl-terminal signal activated Lhx3, indicating that this region is critical to transcriptional activity and may be a target of regulatory pathways. The pattern of conservation of the nuclear localization and nuclear matrix targeting signals suggests that the LIM homeodomain factors use similar mechanisms for subcellular localization. Furthermore, upon nuclear entry, association of Lhx3 with the nuclear matrix may contribute to LIM homeodomain factor interaction with other classes of transcription factors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Association of transcriptionally active vitellogenin II gene with the nuclear matrix of chicken liver.

Supercoiled DNA loops linked to the nuclear matrix can be progressively cleaved with deoxyribonuclease I. The DNA which remains associated with the nuclear matrix can be purified and analysed for vitellogenin II sequence content by dot blot hybridization. Using this technique we show that vitellogenin II gene sequences are selectively associated with the nuclear matrix of liver but not with oviduct of laying hens. Following primary stimulation in immature chicks of vitellogenin synthesis with estradiol, the association of the gene with the nuclear matrix precedes vitellogenin mRNA synthesis. After 15 days when the level of vitellogenin mRNA has returned to zero, the gene is no longer preferentially associated with the nuclear matrix. At this time a second stimulation with estradiol results in a reassociation of the vitellogenin II gene with the nuclear matrix. In addition to the structural gene, both the 3' and 5' end flanking regions (1.5-2 kb) also bind to the nuclear matrix. However, beyond the limit of 1.5-2 kb upstream from the 5' end of the gene, there is no preferential binding of DNA to the nuclear matrix.

Animals↗

Identification of nuclear matrix proteins in the cancer and normal rat prostate.

The nuclear matrix is the structural component of the nucleus that determines nuclear morphology and organizes the DNA in a three-dimensional fashion that is tissue specific. Previously, some of the nuclear matrix proteins have been reported to be both tissue and cell type specific and are altered with the state of differentiation and transformation. This study demonstrates that the nuclear matrix is specific for the individual lobes of the normal rat prostate and that the nuclear matrix undergoes changes in protein composition in the Dunning prostate cancer tissue. Additionally, in the Dunning rat prostate adenocarcinoma cell lines, there is a range of tumor phenotypes and the nuclear matrix varies in composition in each tumor cell type. These differences in the nuclear matrix proteins are associated with quantitative changes in nuclear morphology that form the pleiomorphic state of the cancer nucleus.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Binding of the glucocorticoid receptor to the rat liver nuclear matrix. The role of disulfide bond formation.

The nuclear matrix is a putative skeletal structure which has been implicated in many nuclear functions. To assess a possible role of the nuclear matrix in glucocorticoid action, purified rat liver nuclei containing glucocorticoid-receptor complexes were treated with DNase I +/- RNase A followed by 1.6 M NaCl, thus yielding salt-extractable and salt-resistant (nuclear matrix) fractions. The subnuclear distribution of hormone-receptor complexes was determined by following the fate of unmetabolized radiolabel after injection of labeled triamcinolone acetonide into adrenalectomized animals and subjecting various subfractions to immunoblotting using a monoclonal antibody which recognizes the glucocorticoid receptor. Both techniques indicated that 50-70% of the total nuclear hormone-receptor complexes were recovered in the nuclear matrix fraction. Previous results (Kaufmann, S. H., and Shaper, J. H. (1984) Exp. Cell Res. 155, 477-495) suggest that a variety of nuclear polypeptides become nuclease- and salt-resistant as a result of the formation of intermolecular disulfide bonds. The following evidence suggests that disulfide bonds mediate the association between the glucocorticoid receptor and the nuclear matrix. When nuclei were isolated in the absence of sulfhydryl-blocking and -cross-linking reagents, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions revealed that the receptor was present as a high molecular weight disulfide-cross-linked complex. When nuclei were isolated in the presence of the irreversible sulfhydryl-blocking reagent iodoacetamide, the disulfide bonds which cross-linked the receptor into high molecular weight complexes were absent; and 85-100% of the hormone-receptor complexes were salt-extractable. When nuclei (isolated in the absence of iodoacetamide) were treated with the sulfhydryl-cross-linking reagent sodium tetrathionate, greater than 95% of the nuclear hormone-receptor complexes became resistant to extraction with nucleases and 1.6 M NaCl. The implications of these results for other matrix-associated nuclear functions are discussed.

Animals↗

[Structure and function of nuclear matrix associated regions (S/MARs)].

Modern concepts on the chromatin loop-domain organization and the role of the DNA regions specifically binding the nuclear matrix (nuclear scaffold, or S/MARs) in its formation, maintenance, and regulation are discussed. Some S/MAR structural features, properties of binding the nuclear matrix, and probable mechanisms of their involvement in regulation of gene activity are considered. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2004, vol. 30, no. 1; see also http://www.maik.ru.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nuclear matrix targets for anticancer agents.

The nuclear matrix of eukaryotic cells comprises a dynamic framework on which DNA is organized into discrete functional units of replication and transcription. There is growing evidence that matrix-associated DNA and proteins are direct targets of a wide range of clinically active anticancer agents. DNA associated with matrix-bound replication and transcription sites has a relatively open conformation and is preferentially damaged by ionizing radiation and certain alkylating agents. Fludarabine phosphate, a purine antimetabolite, inhibits DNA replication by blocking the synthesis of matrix-associated primer RNA and RNA-primed Okazaki fragments. VM-26 and m-AMSA appear to interact specifically with nuclear matrix topoisomerase II, and one mechanism of cellular resistance to these agents is associated with depletion of the matrix enzyme. Studies of the interactions of anticancer agents with targets in the nuclear matrix should provide further insight into the mechanisms by which these agents exert their therapeutic effects.

Alkylating Agents↗

Nuclear matrix proteins and osteoblast gene expression.

The molecular mechanisms that couple osteoblast structure and gene expression are emerging from recent studies on the bone extracellular matrix, integrins, the cytoskeleton, and the nucleoskeleton (nuclear matrix). These proteins form a dynamic structural network, the tissue matrix, that physically links the genes with the substructure of the cell and its substrate. The molecular analog of cell structure is the geometry of the promoter. The degree of supercoiling and bending of promoter DNA can regulate transcriptional activity. Nuclear matrix proteins may render a change in cytoskeletal organization into a bend or twist in the promoter of target genes. We review the role of nuclear matrix proteins in the regulation of gene expression with special emphasis on osseous tissue. Nuclear matrix proteins bind to the osteocalcin and type I collagen promoters in osteoblasts. One such protein is Cbfa1, a recently described transcriptional activator of osteoblast differentiation. Although their mechanisms of action are unknown, some nuclear matrix proteins may act as "architectural" transcription factors, regulating gene expression by bending the promoter and altering the interactions between other trans-acting proteins. The osteoblast nuclear matrix is comprised of cell- and phenotype-specific proteins including proteins common to all cells. Nuclear matrix proteins specific to the osteoblast developmental stage and proteins that distinguish osteosarcoma from the osteoblast have been identified. Recent studies indicating that nuclear matrix proteins mediate bone cell response to parathyroid hormone and vitamin D are discussed.

Antigens, Nuclear↗

Degradation of nuclear matrix and DNA cleavage in apoptotic thymocytes.

In dexamethasone-treated thymocyte cultures an increase in nuclear proteolytic activity paralleled chromatin fragmentation and the appearance of small apoptotic cells. The elevation of nuclear proteolytic activity was accompanied by site-specific degradation of nuclear mitotic apparatus protein and lamin B, two essential components of the nuclear matrix. Nuclear mitotic apparatus protein phosphorylation and cleavage into 200 and 48 kDa fragments occurred within 30 minutes of dexamethasone treatment. Cleavage of lamin B, which generated a fragment of 46 kDa consistent with the central rod domain of the protein, was also detected after 30 minutes of exposure to the steroid hormone. The level of lamin B phosphorylation did not change as a result of the dexamethasone treatment and the lamina did not solubilize until the later stages of apoptosis. Initial DNA breaks, detected by the terminal transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling assay, occurred throughout the nuclei and solubilization of lamina was not required for this process to commence. The data presented in this paper support a model of apoptotic nuclear destruction brought about by the site-specific proteolysis of key structural proteins. Both the nuclear mitotic apparatus protein and lamin B were specifically targeted by protease(s) at early stages of the cell death pathway, which possibly initiate the cascade of degradative events in apoptosis.

Animals↗

Homeotic protein binding sites, origins of replication, and nuclear matrix anchorage sites share the ATTA and ATTTA motifs.

Nuclear matrix organizes the mammalian chromatin into loops. This is achieved by binding of nuclear matrix proteins to characteristic DNA landmarks in introns as well as proximal and distal sites flanking the 5' and 3' ends of genes. Matrix anchorage sites (MARs), origins of replication (ORIs), and homeotic protein binding sites share common DNA sequence motifs. In particular, the ATTA and ATTTA motifs, which constitute the core elements recognized by the homeobox domain from species as divergent as flies and humans, are frequently occurring in the matrix attachment sites of several genes. The human apolipoprotein B 3' MAR and a stretch of the Chinese hamster DHFR gene intron and human HPRT gene intron shown to anchor these genes to the nuclear matrix are mosaics of ATTA and ATTTA motifs. Several origins of replication also share these elements. This observation suggests that homeotic proteins which control the expression level of many genes and pattern formation during development are components of the nuclear matrix. Thus, the nuclear matrix, known as the site of DNA replication, might sculpture the crossroads of the differential activation of origins during development and S-phase and the control of gene expression and pattern formation in embryogenesis.

Animals↗