Prothymosin alpha is a chromatin-remodelling protein in mammalian cells

Prothymosin alpha (ProTalpha) is an abundant mammalian acidic nuclear protein whose expression is related to cell proliferation. Here we report that in HL-60 cells overexpressing ProTalpha, the accessibility of micrococcal nuclease to chromatin is strongly increased. In the DNA ladder generated by t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemical journal 1998-07, Vol.333 ( Pt 1) (1), p.1-3
Main Authors: Gomez-Marquez, J, Rodríguez, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cell Nucleus - metabolism
Chromatin - chemistry
Chromatin - metabolism
DNA, Complementary - genetics
Histones - metabolism
HL-60 Cells
Humans
Micrococcal Nuclease - metabolism
Nucleosomes - chemistry
Plasmids
Protein Precursors - biosynthesis
Protein Precursors - genetics
Protein Precursors - physiology
Thymosin - analogs & derivatives
Thymosin - biosynthesis
Thymosin - genetics
Thymosin - physiology
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Summary:Prothymosin alpha (ProTalpha) is an abundant mammalian acidic nuclear protein whose expression is related to cell proliferation. Here we report that in HL-60 cells overexpressing ProTalpha, the accessibility of micrococcal nuclease to chromatin is strongly increased. In the DNA ladder generated by the nuclease activity, the sizes of the mononucleosome (146 bp, the DNA fragment that is bound to the histone octamer) and its multimers correspond to nucleosomes lacking histone H1. The percentage of histone-H1-depleted chromatin (active chromatin) is also higher in the cells overexpressing ProTalpha. On the basis of these and previous findings, we propose a biological role for ProTalpha in the remodelling of chromatin fibres through its interaction with histone H1.
ISSN:0264-6021
1470-8728
DOI:10.1042/bj3330001