The C-Terminal Domain of Sin1 Interacts with the SWI-SNF Complex in Yeast

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the SWI-SNF complex has been proposed to antagonize the repressive effects of chromatin by disrupting nucleosomes. The SIN genes were identified as suppressors of defects in the SWI-SNF complex, and the SIN1 gene encodes an HMG1-like protein that has been proposed to be a component of chromatin. Specific mutations (sin mutations) in both histone H3 and H4 genes produce the same phenotypic effects as do mutations in the SIN1 gene. In this study, we demonstrate that Sin1 and the H3 and H4 histones interact genetically and that the C terminus of Sin1 physically associates with components of the SWI-SNF complex. In addition, we demonstrate that this interaction is blocked in the full-length Sin1 protein by the N-terminal half of the protein. Based on these and additional results, we propose that Sin1 acts as a regulatable bridge between the SWI-SNF complex and the nucleosome.     

High mobility group-like protein in bovine milk stimulates the proliferation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells.

The active component in bovine milk on the proliferation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells was purified and identified. Growth-promoting activity was measured by [(3)H]thymidine incorporation on the cell. The molecular weight of the purified protein was 10 kDa. The amino-terminal sequence of this 10-kDa protein was identical to bovine high mobility group protein (HMG) 1. This 10-kDa protein is suggested to be a basic protein and to have an HMG box, a consensus sequence motif among the HMG family. From these results, we named this protein HMG-like protein. HMG is a ubiquitous nonhistone component of chromatin and considered to be implicated in DNA replication. We found this protein in milk, and it showed a growth-promoting activity. We propose the possibility that HMG-like protein existed in milk and plays an important role for neonate in bone formation by activating osteoblasts.     

HMG1-related DNA-binding protein isolated with V-(D)-J recombination signal probes.

In order to isolate cDNA clones for DNA-binding components of the V-(D)-J recombinase, phage libraries from a pre-B-cell line were screened with a radiolabeled probe containing recombination signal sequences (RSS). Among prospective clones, cDNA T160 was analyzed further. It produced a protein of 80.6 kDa which bound to DNA containing RSS but not to DNA in which the RSS had been mutated. A search of a data base revealed that the T160 protein has significant sequence homology (56%) to the nonhistone chromosomal protein HMG1 within the C-terminal region of 80 amino acids. DNA-binding analysis with truncated proteins showed that the HMG homology region is responsible for DNA binding. Using restriction fragment length polymorphisms, the T160 gene was mapped at the proximal end of mouse chromosome 2. Evidence was obtained for genetic linkage between the T160 gene and the recombination activator genes RAG-1 and RAG-2.