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DNA packaging and organization in mammalian spermatozoa: comparison with somatic cells.

Mammalian sperm DNA is the most tightly compacted eukaryotic DNA, being at least sixfold more highly condensed than the DNA in mitotic chromosomes. To achieve this high degree of packaging, sperm DNA interacts with protamines to form linear, side-by-side arrays of chromatin. This differs markedly from the bulkier DNA packaging of somatic cell nuclei and mitotic chromosomes, in which the DNA is coiled around histone octamers to form nucleosomes. The overall organization of mammalian sperm DNA, however, resembles that of somatic cells in that both the linear arrays of sperm chromatin and the 30-nm solenoid filaments of somatic cell chromatin are organized into loop domains attached at their bases to a nuclear matrix. In addition to the sperm nuclear matrix, sperm nuclei contain a unique structure termed the sperm nuclear annulus to which the entire complement of DNA appears to be anchored when the nuclear matrix is disrupted during decondensation. In somatic cells, proper function of DNA is dependent upon the structural organization of the DNA by the nuclear matrix, and the structural organization of sperm DNA is likely to be just as vital to the proper functioning of the spermatozoa.

Animals↗

Nuclear architecture supports integration of physiological regulatory signals for transcription of cell growth and tissue-specific genes during osteoblast differentiation.

During the past several years it has become increasingly evident that the three-dimensional organization of the nucleus plays a critical role in transcriptional control. The principal theme of this prospect will be the contribution of nuclear structure to the regulation of gene expression as functionally related to development and maintenance of the osteoblast phenotype during establishment of bone tissue-like organization. The contributions of nuclear structure as it regulates and is regulated by the progressive developmental expression of cell growth and bone cell related genes will be examined. We will consider signalling mechanisms that integrate the complex and interdependent responsiveness to physiological mediators of osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. The focus will be on the involvement of the nuclear matrix, chromatin structure, and nucleosome organization in transcriptional control of cell growth and bone cell related genes. Findings are presented which are consistent with involvement of nuclear structure in gene regulatory mechanisms which support osteoblast differentiation by addressing four principal questions: 1) Does the representation of nuclear matrix proteins reflect the developmental stage-specific requirements for modifications in transcription during osteoblast differentiation? 2) Are developmental stage-specific transcription factors components of nuclear matrix proteins? 3) Can the nuclear matrix facilitate interrelationships between physiological regulatory signals that control transcription and the integration of activities of multiple promoter regulatory elements? 4) Are alterations in gene expression and cell phenotypic properties in transformed osteoblasts and osteosarcoma cells reflected by modifications in nuclear matrix proteins? There is a striking representation of nuclear matrix proteins unique to cells, tissues as well as developmental stages of differentiation, and tissue organization. Together with selective association of regulatory molecules with the nuclear matrix in a growth and differentiation-specific manner, there is a potential for application of nuclear matrix proteins in tumor diagnosis, assessment of tumor progression, and prognosis of therapies where properties of the transformed state of cells is modified. It is realistic to consider the utilization of nuclear matrix proteins for targeting regions of cell nuclei and specific genomic domains on the basis of developmental phenotypic properties or tissue pathology.

Animals↗

Different structural systems of the nucleus are targets for SV40 large T antigen.

To define the interaction of SV40 large T with different structural systems in the nuclei of SV40-transformed cells (BALB/c mKSA), we have employed an in situ cell fractionation procedure leading to the preparation of the nuclear matrix, and giving rise to defined nuclear extracts comprising soluble nuclear proteins (nucleoplasm) and the solubilized chromatin. Large T could be detected in the nucleoplasmic fraction and in the chromatin fraction, as well as in tight association with the nuclear matrix. From the nuclear matrix, large T could be solubilized by treatment with a zwitterionic detergent. Different solubility properties, differences in the amount of the cellular phosphoprotein p53 coprecipitating with large T, and different stabilities in its association with the nuclear structural systems indicate that distinct subclasses of large T were isolated from their in vivo location in SV40-transformed cells.

Animals↗

A potential role of nuclear matrix-associated protein kinase CK2 in protection against drug-induced apoptosis in cancer cells.

Protein kinase CK2 (CK2) has long been implicated in the regulation of cell growth and proliferation. Its activity is generally elevated in rapidly proliferating tissues, and nuclear matrix (NM) is an important subnuclear locale of its functional signaling. In the prostate, nuclear CK2 is rapidly lost commensurate with induction of receptor-mediated apoptosis after growth stimulus withdrawal. By contrast, chemical-induced apoptosis in prostate cancer and other cells (by etoposide and diethylstilbestrol) evokes an enhancement in CK2 associated with the NM that appears to be because of translocation of CK2 from the cytoplasmic to the nuclear compartment. This shuttling of CK2 to the NM may reflect a protective response to chemical-mediated apoptosis. Supporting evidence for this was obtained by employing cells that were transiently transfected with various expression plasmids of CK2 (thereby expressing additional CK2) prior to treatment with etoposide or diethylstilbestrol. Cells transfected with the CK2alpha or CK2alphabeta showed significant resistance to chemical-mediated apoptosis commensurate with the corresponding elevation in CK2 in the NM. Transfection with CK2beta did not demonstrate this effect. These results suggest, for the first time, that besides the commonly appreciated function of CK2 in cell growth, it may also have a role in protecting cells against apoptosis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The effect of in vitro heat exposure on the recovery of nuclear matrix-bound DNA polymerase alpha activity during the different phases of the cell cycle in synchronized HeLa S3 cells.

HeLa S3 cells were synchronized by a double thymidine block or aphidicolin treatment and the levels of nuclear matrix-bound DNA polymerase alpha activity were then measured using activated calf thymus DNA as template. The nuclear matrix was obtained by 2 M NaCl extraction and DNase I digestion of isolated nuclei incubated at 37 degrees C for 45 min prior to subfractionation. In all phases of the cell cycle 25-30% of nuclear DNA polymerase alpha activity remained matrix-bound, even when cells were in the G1 phase. No dynamic association of DNA polymerase alpha activity with the matrix was seen, at variance with previous results obtained in regenerating rat liver. The variations measured in matrix-bound activity closely followed those detected in isolated nuclei throughout the cell cycle. If nuclei were not heat-stabilized very low levels of DNA polymerase alpha activity were measured in the matrix (1-2% of total nuclear activity). Heat incubation of nuclei failed to produce any enrichment in matrix-associated newly replicated DNA, whereas the sulfhydryl cross-linking chemical sodium tetrathionate did. Therefore the results obtained after the heat stabilization procedure do not completely fit with the model that envisions the nuclear matrix as the active site where eucaryotic DNA replication takes place.

Aphidicolin↗

Nuclear protein patterns in normal T-lymphocytes and lymphoblastoid cells.

We compared the two-dimensional patterns of nuclear proteins obtained from normal quiescent T lymphocytes with those from normal proliferating T lymphocytes and three lymphoblastoid cell lines (CEM, Namalwa, and Molt-4). We identified sets of nuclear proteins which are specific for normal quiescent or normal proliferating T lymphocytes, or shared by the three lymphoblastoid cell lines and absent from the normal T cells. The protein patterns from two nuclear subfractions, i.e., S1 fraction, obtained after nuclease extraction, and the nuclear matrix, were also analyzed. In S1 nuclear fraction, 6 proteins of 75 kDa [isoelectric point (pI) 4.4], 55 kDa (pI 6.7), 41 kDa (pI 4.1), 39 kDa (pI 5.0), 32 kDa (pI 5.5), and 29 kDa (pI 6.6) were found to be specifically present in normal quiescent cells but not in normal proliferating or lymphoblastoid cell lines. Five proteins of 23 kDa (pI 4.2), 23 kDa (pI 4.3), 22 kDa (pI 4.4), 21 kDa (pI 4.5), and 21 kDa (pI 4.6) were observed only in the S1 fraction of normal proliferating lymphocytes, whereas they were absent in normal quiescent cells and in the transformed cell lines. Eight proteins of 56 kDa (pI 4.7), 50 kDa (pI 4.6), 45 kDa (pI 4.4), 43 kDa (pI 4.3), 42 kDa (pI 4.3), 41 kDa (pI 4.3), 43 kDa (pI 4.2), and 42 kDa (pI 4.1) were found only in the nuclear matrix of normal quiescent cells. Moreover, two doublets of proteins of 31-33 kDa (pI 4.3) and 31-33 kDa (pI 4.2) were found only in the nuclear matrix of the normal proliferating cells and three proteins of 37 kDa (pI 3.8), 37 kDa (pI 3.7), and 35 kDa (pI 4.5) were specifically present in the nuclear matrix of the lymphoblastoid cells lines, but not in normal quiescent or activated lymphocytes.

Antigens, Nuclear↗

Sub-nuclear localization of Rad51 in response to DNA damage.

The repair of DNA double-strand breaks involves the accumulation of key homologous recombination proteins in nuclear foci at the sites of repair. The organization of these foci in relation to non-chromatin nuclear structures is poorly understood. To address this question, we examined the distribution of several recombination proteins in subcellular fractions following treatment of HeLa cells with ionizing radiation and the crosslinking agent mitomycin C. The results showed association of Rad51, Rad54, BRCA1 and BRCA2, but not Rad51C, with the nuclear matrix fraction in response to double-strand breaks induction. The association of Rad51 with the nuclear matrix correlates with the formation of Rad51 nuclear foci as a result of DNA damage. Fractionation in situ confirmed that Rad51 foci remained firmly immobilized within the chromatin-depleted nuclei. Irs1SF cells that are unable to form Rad51 damage-induced nuclear foci did not show accumulation of Rad51 in the nuclear matrix. Similarly, no accumulation of Rad51 in the nuclear matrix could be observed after treatment of HeLa cells with the kinase inhibitor caffeine, which reduces formation of Rad51 foci. The results were compared to the distribution of the phosphorylated histone variant, gamma-H2AX. These data suggest a dynamic association and tethering of recombination proteins and surrounding chromatin regions to the nuclear matrix.

Animals↗

Nuclear matrix-intermediate filament system and its alteration in adenovirus infected HeLa cell.

The nuclear matrix-intermediate filament (NM-IF) of normal and adenovirus infected HeLa cells were investigated by means of both electron microscopy and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. After infection there were some changes in NM-IF, and the viral factory was suspended in nuclear matrix. Two new polypeptides appeared in 2-D gel of NM-IF after infection. They are probably not viral proteins but cellular polypeptides. During viral replication, all of vimentin were degraded and phosphorylated keratin 18 increased. These facts suggest that NM-IF plays a certain role in adenovirus replication.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Characterization of nuclear morphology and nuclear matrices in ageing human fibroblasts.

It is believed that the mechanisms for cellular senescence may reside within the genome, however, the changes which occur in the DNA and the surrounding nuclear environment have not been well documented. As the dynamic skeletal framework of the nucleus, the nuclear matrix is poised to play a critical role in the ageing process. The nuclear matrix plays a central role in DNA organization and nuclear structural morphology. The important roles of the nuclear matrix in cell structure and function are demonstrated by its properties of tissue specificity and that it is altered by viral infection, differentiation and carcinogenesis. We therefore undertook a study to investigate the morphologic alterations which occur in ageing nuclei and to determine whether compositional changes in the nuclear matrix occur with age in human skin fibroblasts. We found that as the nucleus increases in size and becomes more round with age, the qualitative pattern of the prominent nuclear matrix proteins does not appear to undergo major changes with age. There do, however, appear to be quantitative alterations in these proteins.

Cell Line↗

hnRNA and its attachment to a nuclear protein matrix.

In this study, DNA-depleted nuclear protein matrices are isolated from HeLa S3 cells. These nuclear matrices consist of peripheral laminae, residual nucleoli, and internal fibrillar structures. High molecular weight, heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) is quantitatively associated with these structures and can be released intact only by affecting the integrity of the matrices. It is, therefore, concluded that hnRNA is part of a highly organized nuclear structure. By irradiation of intact cells or isolated nuclear matrices with ultraviolet light, proteins tightly associated with hnRNA can be induced to cross-link with the RNA. Performing the cross-linking in vivo is an extra guarantee that only hnRNA-protein (hnRNP) complexes existing in the intact cell are covalently linked. Such hnRNP complexes were isolated and purified under conditions that completely dissociate nonspecific RNA-protein complexes. By comparison of the hnRNP found in nuclear matrices and the published data on the composition of hnRNP particles, it was found that the so-called hnRNP "packaging" proteins (32,000-38,000 mol wt) were not efficiently cross-linked to hnRNA by UV irradiation. They were, however, present in the matrix preparations, bound to hnRNA, because they were released from nuclear matrices after ribonuclease treatment of these structures. On the other hand, two major hnRNPs (41,500 and 43,000 mol wt) were efficiently cross-linked to hnRNA. These proteins were not released by ribonuclease treatment, which suggests that they are involved in the binding of hnRNA to the nuclear matrix.

Cell Nucleus↗

Identification and analysis of a matrix-attachment region 5' of the rat glutamate-dehydrogenase-encoding gene.

Eukaryotic chromatin is thought to be organized into independently regulated loop domains by interaction of matrix-attachment regions (MAR) of the DNA to the nuclear matrix. To define the borders of the chromatin loop containing the glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) gene, we screened the GDH gene and flanking regions for the presence of MAR sequences. We here report identification, mapping and sequencing of an (A + T)-rich MAR located 2010-1397 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site of GDH, that mediates strong binding to the nuclear matrix. Smaller regions can also confer binding capacity, although at a lower affinity. This (A + T)-rich MAR contained 11 bp and 12 bp (A + T)-rich direct repeats, but not any of the sequences previously described to be associated with MAR activity. We here show that the presence of (A + T)-rich domains of DNA is not sufficient to confer binding capacity, since (A + T)-rich sequences located downstream of the identified MAR did not bind to the nuclear matrix. Moreover, a consensus topoisomerase-II-binding site located downstream of the MAR was found to be insufficient to mediate substantial binding. The number of binding sites in the nuclear matrix for MAR-containing fragments was shown to be approximately 15,000/nucleus. Since organization of the entire rat genome in loops with an average loop size of 100 kbp would require 60,000 binding sites, this suggests that only part of the genome is organized in loops. Alternatively, we might have underestimated the number of binding sites. The GDH MAR, and MAR-containing fragments derived from other species, were found to bind to the same binding sites in the nuclear matrix, although the affinity varied.

Animals↗

Effects of all-trans-retinoic acid on human esophageal carcinoma cells and their nuclear matrices.

Esophageal cancer is a common cancer among ethnic Chinese. The reported incidence of esophageal cancer has increased many fold in the past decades and is apparently still rising. Nuclear matrix forms the scaffold of the nucleus and participates in various nuclear functions. Cancer specific nuclear matrix proteins have been identified in several tumor systems. 2-D gel analysis shows the presence of novel nuclear matrix proteins in ATRA treated tumor cells and these proteins are cell line specific. Our preliminary study also shows ATRA altered the nuclear matrix density of tumor cells. The significance of these nuclear matrix proteins is discussed.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of osteopontin gene expression in preosteoblasts by retinoic acid.

This study examines the relative importance of transcriptional and posttranscriptional actions of retinoic acid (RA) in the regulation of osteopontin gene expression in a rat clonal preosteoblastic cell line, UMR 201. Nuclear run-on analysis demonstrated constitutive expression of the osteopontin gene which was increased by threefold after 4 hr treatment with 1 microM RA, returning to a basal level by 24 hr. However, Northern blot analysis, performed concurrently, showed that RA progressively increased the steady-state osteopontin mRNA level beginning 2 hr before any increase in gene transcription and peaking at 24 hr. There was no difference in osteopontin mRNA stability between control and RA-treated cells after gene transcription was inhibited with 5,6-dichloro-1-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB). Total RNA was obtained from cellular subfractions (nuclear matrix, nonmatrix chromatin, nuclear membrane, and cytoplasm) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) performed with primers complementary to exons 3 and 4 of the mouse osteopontin gene. Unspliced PCR product, comprising the two exons and the intervening intron, was present in the nuclear matrix fractions of control and RA-treated cells. However, RA resulted in a time-dependent accumulation of mature osteopontin mRNA in all cellular subfractions, suggesting that the proficiency of nuclear processing of primary mRNA transcripts was greatly enhanced by RA. This action depended on de novo protein synthesis. These results demonstrate that the posttranscriptional action of RA is not unique to the regulation of alkaline phosphatase gene expression.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Change in the expression of a nuclear matrix-associated protein is correlated with cellular transformation.

We have identified a monoclonal antibody that recognizes a nuclear matrix-associated protein in NIH 3T3 cells. The immunofluorescence pattern consists predominantly of bright nuclear granule clusters distributed throughout the nucleoplasm, with the exclusion of nucleoli. It recognizes a protein of 190 kDa that is down-regulated to various degrees in a panel of single-oncogene-transformed NIH 3T3 cells. Its localization is similar, but not identical, to the spliceosomal speckles. p190 shows a coordinate expression during the growth cycle of nontransformed NIH 3T3 cells; it is synthesized at the highest level under growth arrest conditions. It is expressed in adult mouse brain and is also present in human IMR-90 fibroblasts.

Animals↗

Radiation-induced oxidative DNA base damage and its repair in nuclear matrix-associated DNA and in bulk DNA in hepatic chromatin of rat upon whole-body gamma-irradiation.

In the present work, we examined the formation and repair of DNA base damages induced by gamma-irradiation in different fractions of rat hepatic chromatin. Animals were exposed to radiation with the dose of 10 Gy. Nuclear matrix DNA and whole chromatin were isolated from the liver of rats killed before and in different time after irradiation. In those samples the pyrimidine-derived and the purine-derived modified DNA bases were identified and quantitated by gas chromatography/isotope-dilution mass spectrometry with selected-ion monitoring. We found elevated levels of modified DNA bases over control values after whole body irradiation in both matrix DNA and bulk chromatin samples. Our results suggest that modified bases are preferentially removed from matrix DNA then bulk chromatin.

Animals↗

[A practical method of whole mount TEM sample preparation and the study of nuclear matrix-intermediate filament scaffolds in K562 cells].

We applied culture plates with bored holes covered with FORMVAR and coated with carbon, to replace the gold grids used in conventional whole mount TEM study. Human erythroleukemia cell line K562 cells plated on the plate surface were extracted using a modified protocol to study scaffolds of nuclear matrix (NM) and intermediate filament (IF). The NM of the K562 cells was found to be composed of interweaving filaments of different diameters, while the cytoplasmic IF were mainly distributed in a radialized pattern. Compared with other techniques of whole mount TEM sample preparations, this one is much more practical and economical, yielding clear NM-IF structures with few artifacts. Study of NM-IF scaffolds in K562 cells might provide a basis for further elucidation of the involvement of NM-IF in the denucleation of mammalian erythroblasts.

Humans↗

Two nuclear proteins in tracheal epithelial cells are recognized by antibodies specific to a squamous differentiation marker, sprI.

In cell-free translations of RNA from primary cultures of pig trachea surface epithelial cells we observed that a mRNA encoding a 20 kDa proline-rich protein (sPRP) was dramatically induced during culturing (Tesfaigzi et al., 1990, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 172:M1304-1309). This mRNA was not detected in tracheal tissue or in epithelial cells prior to culturing. Antisera were raised to synthetic peptide sequences corresponding to 23 amino acids on the C-terminus (C23-antiserum) and 29 amino acids on the N-terminus (N29 antiserum) of sPRP. On Western blot analysis, C23 antiserum reacted with a 20 kDa protein in cytosolic extracts from pig tracheal cells maintained in culture for 4 days. The reaction with the 20 kDa protein was inhibited by adding C23 peptide. Two nuclear proteins (66 and 70 kDa) obtained by micrococcal nuclease treatment of tracheal cell nuclei were detected on Western blots with C23 antiserum. These proteins were present in cells both before and after culturing. Sucrose gradient fractionation indicated that these nuclear proteins are associated with chromatin. Small amounts of the 66 and 70 kDa proteins were obtained from nuclear matrix fractions. These nuclear proteins also reacted with N29 antiserum. Since these proteins share similar epitopes with the N- and C-termini of sPRP, it is likely that the 20 kDa protein (sPRP) is part of these proteins. However, purification of the nuclear proteins followed by an amino acid sequence analysis is necessary to clarify whether sPRP is part of these proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Intrinsic transcriptional activation-inhibition domains of the polyomavirus enhancer binding protein 2/core binding factor alpha subunit revealed in the presence of the beta subunit.

A member of the polyomavirus enhancer binding protein 2/core binding factor (PEBP2/CBF) is composed of PEBP2 alphaB1/AML1 (as the alpha subunit) and a beta subunit. It plays an essential role in definitive hematopoiesis and is frequently involved in the chromosomal abnormalities associated with leukemia. In the present study, we report functionally separable modular structures in PEBP2 alphaB1 for DNA binding and for transcriptional activation. DNA binding through the Runt domain of PEBP2 alphaB1 was hindered by the adjacent carboxy-terminal region, and this inhibition was relieved by interaction with the beta subunit. Utilizing a reporter assay system in which both the alpha and beta subunits are required to achieve strong transactivation, we uncovered the presence of transcriptional activation and inhibitory domains in PEBP2 alphaB1 that were only apparent in the presence of the beta subunit. The inhibitory domain keeps the full transactivation potential of full-length PEBP2 alphaB1 below its maximum potential. Fusion of the transactivation domain of PEBP2 alphaB1 to the yeast GAL4 DNA-binding domain conferred transactivation potential, but further addition of the inhibitory domain diminished the activity. These results suggest that the activity of the alpha subunit as a transcriptional activator is regulated intramolecularly as well as by the beta subunit. PEBP2 alphaB1 and the beta subunit were targeted to the nuclear matrix via signals distinct from the nuclear localization signal. Moreover, the transactivation domain by itself was capable of associating with the nuclear matrix, which implies the existence of a relationship between transactivation and nuclear matrix attachment.

Amino Acid Sequence↗