Methylation of Chromosomal Proteins in Neuronal and Glial Nuclei Purified from Cerebral Hemispheres of Rat During Postnatal Development

The process of methylation of chromosomal proteins [histones and nonhistone proteins (NHP)] in neuronal and glial cell nuclei obtained from cerebral hemispheres of rats at 1, 10, and 30 days of age was investigated. Purified neuronal and glial nuclei were incubated in the presence of S-adenosyl[methyl-3H]methionine. Histone and NHPs were extracted and fractionated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results obtained indicate remarkable differences in the process of methylation of histones and NHPs between neuronal and glial nuclei, especially during the first period of postnatal development. In both nuclear populations the histone fraction H3 was labeled to a greater degree than the other fractions and showed the major changes during postnatal development. The densitometric and radioactive patterns of NHPs show considerable changes in the two nuclear populations at the various ages examined. The main difference between neuronal and glial nuclei consists in the intense methylation of proteins with a molecular weight of approximately 100,000, which are present in neuronal nuclei and virtually absent in glial ones. The results obtained may be correlated with the different chromatin structures of neuronal and glial nuclei and with the patterns of maturation and differentiation of neuronal and glial cells during postnatal development.     

Changes in nonhistone chromosomal proteins in phytohemagglutininstimulated lymphocytes

Stimulation of bovine lymphocytes with phytohemagglutinin results in quantitative as well as qualitative changes in the nonhistone chromosomal proteins. Analysis of these proteins by hydroxyapatite chromatography and sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis shows not only a selective increase in the amount of some nonhistone proteins but also a decrease of other nonhistone protein bands. This observation is compatible with the view that nonhistone proteins have an inhibitory as well as an activating function at the genome level.     

Properties of the genome in normal and SV-40 transformed WI-38 human diploid fibroblasts. III. Turnover of nonhisone chromosomal proteins and their phosphate groups.

The turnover of nonhistone chromosomal proteins and their phosphate groups was compared in normal and in SV-40 virus transformed WI-38 human diploid fibroblasts. Cells were pulse labelled with tryptophan-³H and ³²P for 30 minutes and the specific activities of tryptophan-³H and ³²P in the various molecular weight classes of nonhistone chromosomal proteins were determined during the first four hours following termination of labelling. While a rapid turnover of high molecular weight nonhistone polypeptides (142, 000 to 200, 000 Daltons) is evident after one hour in SV_40 transformed cells, the specific activities of these nonhistone chromosomal polypeptides are not significantly decreased in normal cells. In contrast, a rapid turnover of low molecular weight (30, 000 to 51, 000 Daltons) nonhistone chromosomal proteins occurs during the first hour in normal WI-38 cells with no corresponding decrease in the specific activities of these proteins in SV-40 transformed cells. There is no apparent net turnover of phosphate groups on nonhistone chromosomal proteins in either normal or SV-40 transformed cells four hours following pulse labelling. Rather, during the first four hours significant fluctuations are observed in the ³²P specific activities of defined molecular weight fractions. Taken together with previous reports of differences in the composition, synthesis and phosphorylation of nonhistone chromosomal proteins in normal and SV-40 transformed human diploid cells the present results further indicate the complex nature of the alterations in these proteins which accompany viral transformation.     

Fractionation, isolation and characterization of nonhistone chromosomal protein from calf thymus.

1) A method is described for the separation and fractionation of nonhistone chromosomal proteins from salt-urea dissociated calf thymus chromatin. After precipitating DNA in the dissociated chromatin solution with LaCl3, the chromosomal proteins in the supernatant were fractionated by SP-Sephadex C-25 column chromatography using a combination of NaCl stepwise and linear gradient elutions. Much care was taken to prevent proteolytic degradation of the chromosomal proteins during the preparation. 2) Among the protein fractions separated by this chromatography, twenty subfractions were found to be homogeneous on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These purified proteins account for about 18% of the whole chromosomal protein. Eleven subfractions of these purified nonhistone proteins had ratios of acidic to basic amino acids above 1.0 and the nine remaining subfractions had ratios below 1.0, corresponding to nonhistone proteins of basic character. 3) The molecular weights of the purified nonhistone proteins ranged from 7,400 to 19,000.     

Acetylation and Phosphorylation of Histones and Nonhistone Chromosomal Proteins in Neuronal and Glial Nuclei Purified from Cerebral Hemispheres of Developing Rat Brain

The processes of acetylation and phosphorylation of histones and nonhistone proteins (NHPs) in neuronal and glial nuclei purified from cerebral hemispheres of rats at 1, 10, and 30 days of age were investigated. Purified neuronal and glial nuclei were incubated in the presence of [3H]acetyl-CoA and of [gamma-32P]ATP. Histones and NHPs were extracted and fractionated by gel electrophoresis. Densitometric and radioactive patterns were obtained. The results showed an increase of acetylation and phosphorylation from 1 to 10 and 30 days of age in both neuronal and glial nuclei in almost all histone and NHP fractions. Among the histones, the H3 fraction was always more labeled than the other fractions and showed the most remarkable differences during postnatal development. In the NHP fractions, the increase in acetylation from 1 to 10 and 30 days of age was more evident in the low-molecular-weight region of neuronal nuclei than in the corresponding fraction of glial nuclei. The appearance of highly phosphorylated proteins (70,000-90,000 daltons)--absent at 1 day, appearing at 10 days, and more evident at 30 days of age--was observed in both neuronal and glial nuclei.     

Properties of the genome in normal and SV40 transformed WI38 human diploid fibroblasts. I. Composition and metabolism of nonhistone chromosomal proteins.

The composition and metabolism of nonhistone chromosomal proteins associated with the genome of normal and SV40 transformed WI38 human diploid fibroblasts were examined. Evidence is presented which indicates variations in the relative protein content, specific activity and phosphorylation of several defined molecular weight classes of these chromosomal polypeptides. In addition, it is shown that blocking DNA replication with cytosine arabinoside does not inhibit the incorporation of ³H-leucine into nonhistone chromosomal proteins of SV40 transformed cells. The possibility that the nonhistone chromosomal proteins of human diploid fibroblasts transformed by SV40 virus may be involved in the regulation of viral induced alterations in gene expression is discussed.     

Similarity of the 0.35 M NaCl soluble nuclear proteins and the nonhistone chromosomal proteins

Nuclear proteins which are extractible with 0. 35 M NaCl and the nonhistone chromosomal proteins which are not soluble at this salt concentration separate on analytical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into the same 11 main fractions. Only one fraction (less than 7% of the total proteins) is specific for the nonhistone chromosomal proteins and is not found among the proteins soluble in 0. 35 M NaCl.     

ANALYSIS OF POLYPEPTIDES ASSOCIATED WITH SHOOT FORMATION IN TOBACCO CALLUS CULTURES

Callus lines of Nicotiana tabacum were selected for competence and lack of competence in shoot formation. Changes in total and chromosomal polypeptides in these shoot-forming and nonshoot-forming tobacco cultures were examined by twodimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Qualitative and quantitative differences in total, nonhistone chromosomal, and basic chromosomal polypeptides were evident throughout the 7-d test period. The analysis of total proteins identified polypeptides specific to shoot-forming and nonshoot-forming tissue during the 7-d sampling period. A small number of basic chromosomal proteins were found solely in shoot-forming or nonshoot-forming tissue. One basic chromosomal protein was detected in only nonshoot-forming tissue at all sampling times. Two proteins, although present in shoot-forming tissue, were present at elevated levels in the nonshoot-forming cultures. No temporal changes in basic proteins over the 7-d incubation period were observed. Qualitative differences in total nonhistone chromosomal polypeptides in the shoot-forming and nonshoot-forming tissue were also observed. Differences in chromosomal polypeptides were observed. In contrast to the basic chromosomal proteins, temporal variation in the nonhistone chromosomal polypeptides was demonstrated. Throughout the 7-d sampling period, 29 and 12 nonhistone chromosomal polypeptides varied qualitatively in shoot-forming and nonshoot-forming callus cultures, respectively. In vitro labeling with ³²P-orthophosphate indicated that approximately 1.0% and 0.3% of the nonhistone chromosomal proteins were phosphorylated in the shoot-forming and nonshoot-forming cultures. Of these phosphorylated polypeptides, one was present in nonshoot-forming tissue and three were detected only in the shoot-forming tissue. Phosphorylation occurred at serine or threonine residues.     

Cell-specific antigens in chicken erythroid nuclei: species specificity.

Antisera raised to dehistonized chicken reticulocyte chromatin were tested for their cell and species specificity. Quantitative microcomplement fixation and immunohistochemical localization revealed the presence in chromatin of erythroid cell-specific nonhistone protein antigen(s). The antigenic specificity was shown to depend on the association of the antigenic protein(s) with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Although the antisera were exceptionally cell specific, they cross-reacted with erythroid cells of other avian species. The extent of cross-reactivity was found to approximate the phylogenetic distances of the tested avian species. Erythroid cells from fish and amphibians were not reactive. Reconstitution experiments of partially purified chicken reticulocyte chromosomal nonhistone protein antigens with DNAs isolated from several vertebrate species showed that the species specificity of the antigenic complexes is determined principally by the species origin of the nonhistone proteins. Our results show that a cell-specific chromosomal nonhistone protein(s) has undergone evolutionary change and the relative immunological differences are consistent with the accepted phylogenetic distances of the species examined.     

Affinity chromatography of nonhistone chromosomal proteins from lymphocytes on DNA-agarose columns

A two step procedure is presented consisting of hydroxyapatite and DNA-agarose chromatography which allows the isolation of nonhistone chromosomal proteins with different affinities towards single stranded DNA. The application of this fractionation scheme to nonhistone chromosomal proteins from bovine lymphocytes is described.     

与大鼠Morris肝癌7777相关的染色质蛋白的免疫亲和层析分离与鉴定

 用5mol/L尿素,将大鼠Morris肝癌7777染色质解离为染色质非组蛋白 (UP组分)及染色质沉淀(UC组分)。UP(含90—95％非组蛋白)用免疫亲和层析(与大鼠Morris肝癌7777去组蛋白染色质抗体交联)分级,经2mol/L NaSCN及8mol/L尿素分部洗脱。将UP及UC,来自UP亲和层析的2mol/L NaSCN及8mol/L尿素洗脱组分同时进行SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)。以大鼠Morris肝癌7777去组蛋白染色质抗体作探针,进行免疫显迹(Immunoblot)测定。在UP部分出现二条阳性带,分子量为:200K及116K。UC部分有三条染色不很深的阳性带,分子量为200K,118K及91K。来自UP亲和层析的2mol/L NaSCN及8mol/L尿素洗脱部分分别有一条浓而清晰的阳性带,分子量分别为74K及83K。用酶联免疫吸附法(E1isa)测试从UP凝胶上切割下的阳性区带,其免疫特异性显著。     

NONHISTONE NUCLEAR PROTEINS OF RAT BRAIN

Abstract— The rat brain was dissected into cerebral cortex, cerebellum and the remaining regions. From the nuclei, isolated from these three brain sections, were extracted two fractions of nuclear sap proteins (proteins soluble in 014 M NaCl and proteins soluble in 01 M Tris-HCl buffer pH 7-6) and two fractions of nonhistone chromosomal proteins (one soluble in 0-35 M NaCl and one which is not soluble at this salt concentration). Each of these four fractions of the nonhistone nuclear proteins was further separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The electrophoretic patterns of the studied fractions of nuclear proteins are qualitatively identical regardless of the brain section from which the analysed protein fraction was isolated. In addition, there arc no qualitative differences in the electrophoretic patterns of nonhistone chromosomal proteins which are and which are not soluble in 0-35 M NaCl. In contrast to the qualitative similarity of the electrophoretic patterns of proteins from different sections of the brain, the amount of the nonhistone nuclear proteins is characteristic for each studied brain section. The ratio of the total nonhistone nuclear proteins to DNA is highest in the brain cortex and lowest in the cerebellum. The most expressed difference between the nuclei is in the ratio of the nonhistone chromosomal proteins soluble in 0-35 M NaCl to DNA. This ratio is 0-52 in the cortex. 0-38 in the mixture of noncortical and noncerebel-lar regions and only 0-18 in the cerebellum. The amount of the three fractions of nonhistone nuclear proteins in the nuclei of individual brain sections is proportional to the activity of the genome in these nuclei. The only exception are the nonhistone chromosomal proteins which are not soluble in 0-35 M NaCl. These proteins and the histones are present in the same amounts in nuclei isolated from all three studied sections of the brain. The results support a proposal that the nonhistone nuclear proteins are involved in the expression of the genetic activity of the cell, without the majority of the proteins in any of the four fractions being the specific regulatory molecules.     

人胚肝发育过程中染色质组份的变化

从14-,17-,21-,27-,34-,及38-周令的人胚肝细胞核分离出柒色质,分别对其中的RNA、DNA、组蛋白(HP)及非组蛋白(NHP)进行测定。在胚胎发育过程中肝柒色质HP/DNA比值变化不大。但是,NHP/DNA与NHP/HP比值发生显著改变。人胚肝NHP量的变化一直保持在整个胚胎发育过程中,NHP量的高峰位于21-及34-周。用SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶板电泳分析处于不同发育阶段的人胚肝总染色质蛋白。电泳图谱显示出染色质NHP组分在质与量上有所改变。     

Properties of the genome in experimental hepatomas: variations in the composition of chromatin

The chromosomal proteins of two rapidly growing and poorly differentiated Morris hepatomas were compared with those of liver from normal and tumor bearing animals. While the total quantity of histone associated with DNA in all tumor and liver chromatin preparations studied were similar, tumor chromatin contained an increased quantity of nonhistone chromosomal proteins. Variations in specific classes of histones and nonhistone chromosomal proteins associated with the genome of the two tumors, host liver and liver of tumor bearing animals were observed.     

The nonhistone chromosomal proteins of vertebrate liver and kidney: A comparative study by gel electrophoresis

Summary The nonhistone chromosomal proteins (NHC proteins) probably include enzymes of chromosomal metabolism, general structural proteins, and possibly control elements. In theory, these proteins may have been strongly conserved during evolution, as the histones have. We have used sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) disc gel electrophoresis to analyze and compare the NHC proteins of two tissues, liver and kidney, from rat, cat, cow, chicken, turtle, and frog. The gel patterns indicate that the NHC proteins have changed much more during evolution than have the histones; the total pattern of NHC proteins has not been conserved. However, there does appear to be a conservation of a subset of bands for each tissue investigated. Further chemical analysis will be required to establish the significance of the results.Recipient of NIH Career Development Award NIH AI-20388     

Chromosomal nonhistone proteins of rat hepatomas and normal rat liver

Chromatin isolated from several well-differentiated rat hepatomas and regenerating liver contains more nonhistone proteins than chromatin of normal liver. Also there are several differences in the electrophoretic patterns of chromosomal nonhistone proteins between hepatomas and normal liver, but not between regenerating or fetal liver and normal liver.     

Proteins of metaphase chromosomes and interphase chromatin.

Metaphase chromosomal and interphase chromatin proteins from cells of two species have been compared by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Consistent, common changes in the quantitative distribution of the nonhistone chromosomal proteins are observed in both species. Proteins of ca. 65,000 and 68,000 MW are enriched in interphase chromatin while proteins of ca. 50,000 and 200,000 are more prominent components of metaphase chromosomes. A group of proteins of 90,000-100,000 are also increased in metaphase chromosomes compared to interphase chromatin. By two dimensional gel analysis, the most abundant proteins from chromosomes of both cell types are similar, suggesting a structural role for these nonhistone proteins (1).