对果蝇S期细胞内组蛋白基因的原位定量分析

利用微型计算机控制的荧光显微镜、荧光强度检测仪和图像记录装置并结合荧光原位杂交法对果蝇细胞核内组蛋白基因的复制时期进行了研究,从而建立了一套细胞内直接定量分析的方法。根据果蝇胚胎原代培养细胞核的DAPI染色强度确定处于S期的细胞。用杂交信号的荧光强度与细胞核荧光强度的相关关系来反映组蛋白基因的复制时期。结果表明果蝇组蛋白基因的复制是在DNA合成早期进行的。这套方法至少可直接在细胞上对每套基因组100以上拷贝数的熏复DNA序列进行有效的定量分析。     

A chromodomain protein, Chp1, is required for the establishment of heterochromatin in fission yeast

The chromodomain is a conserved motif that functions in the epigenetic control of gene expression. Here, we report the functional characterization of a chromodomain protein, Chp1, in the heterochromatin assembly in fission yeast. We show that Chp1 is a structural component of three heterochromatic regions-centromeres, the mating-type region, and telomeres-and that its localization in these regions is dependent on the histone methyltransferase Clr4. Although deletion of the chp1(+) gene causes centromere-specific decreases in Swi6 localization and histone H3-K9 methylation, we show that the role of Chp1 is not exclusive to the centromeres. We found that some methylation persists in native centromeric regions in the absence of Chp1, which is also true for the mating-type region and telomeres, and determined that Swi6 and Chp2 are critical to maintaining this residual methylation. We also show that Chp1 participates in the establishment of repressive chromatin in all three chromosomal regions. These results suggest that different heterochromatic regions share common structural properties, and that centromeric heterochromatin requires Chp1-mediated establishment steps differently than do other heterochromatic regions.