Identification of a nuclear matrix-associated region of the c-myc protooncogene and its recognition by a nuclear protein in the human leukemia HL-60 cell line.

A nuclear matrix (NM)-associated region (MAR) of the protooncogene c-myc is identified in a human leukemia cell line (HL-60). A binding assay between isolated NM and 32P-end-labeled c-myc fragments in the presence of unlabeled competitors was used, and a 3'-end DraI/DraI fragment of 172 base pairs containing the first of the two polyadenylation [poly(A)] signals was identified as an in vitro MAR. Direct detection of endogenous c-myc fragments remaining NM bound after restriction digestion was used, and an in vivo MAR has been identified as the ClaI/EcoRI 1.4-kilobase pair fragment containing the 172-base pair in vitro MAR fragment. In addition, a nuclear protein (Mr = 25,000, p25) demonstrating preferential binding to the 172-base pair c-myc MAR has been identified and partially purified. This protein is diminished in the nuclei of the cells induced by phorbol ester to undergo macrophage differentiation. Footprint analysis shows that p25 binds to two regions of the 172-base pair fragment. One contains the first of two poly(A) addition signals and a topo II box-like sequence, and the other (AATTTCAATCCTAGTA) is 17 base pairs downstream of the first poly(A) signal.

Intranuclear localization of insulin in rat hepatoma cells: insulin/matrix association.

Previous studies have documented nuclear insulin accumulation in a variety of cell types. The present investigation extends these observations by demonstrating that insulin associates with the matrix fraction of H35 rat hepatoma cell nuclei. Nuclei were isolated from [125I]insulin-loaded cells and extracted with DNase I, RNase A and high salt. The resulting matrix fraction was found to contain greater than 75% of the radiolabel initially present. Ultrastructural studies to confirm these findings were carried out using an agarose-encapsulated nuclear matrix preparation. Electron microscopic immunocytochemistry specifically detected insulin in matrices prepared from insulin-treated cells. No reaction was observed in matrices obtained from non-insulin-treated (control) cells. Further biochemical analysis revealed that matrix-associated insulin could be solubilized with 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or in the presence of high urea concentrations. Gel filtration analysis of urea-solubilized matrix material revealed the presence of apparently intact [125I]insulin and a higher molecular weight peak. It is hypothesized that the latter may represent a tightly associated complex of insulin with some matrix protein(s).

A simple method for isolation of DNA fragments associated with the nuclear lamina in vivo.

We describe a simple method for the purification of DNA fragments associated with the nuclear lamina in vivo. Ehrlich ascite tumor cells are first u.v.-irradiated to crosslink DNA to proteins. The nuclear lamina is then isolated and purified by low-speed centrifugation through a cushion of 40% sucrose. The material sedimenting through the created density barrier represents nuclear lamina of a very high purity, free from any DNA fragments except those which were in a crosslinking distance to it in vivo.

Cellular distribution of the hamster liver specific nucleolar antigens.

The immunochemical localization of hamster liver nucleolar antigens in subcellular fractions (nuclei, 10,000 x g pellet, 100,000 x g pellet and supernatant), nuclear substructures (chromatin, nuclear matrix, nuclear envelope, nucleoli, RNP particles and nucleosomes), and three classes of nonhistone chromosomal proteins with different affinities to DNA (NHCP1, NHCP2 and NHCP3) from nuclease-sensitive and nuclease-resistant chromatin fractions of hamster liver were studied. Six main nucleolar antigens with mol. wts 27,000; 29,000; 30,000; 36,000; 45,000; and 46,000 were found in subcellular fractions, nuclear substructures and classes of non-histone proteins of hamster liver. The antigens with mol.wts of approx. 27,000; 29,000; and 36,000 which were absent in hamster pancreas, spleen and Kirkman--Robbins hepatoma nuclei, seem specific for liver tissue.

Replication forks are associated with the nuclear matrix.

It has been proposed that DNA in eukaryotic cells is synthesized via replication complexes that are fixed to a proteinaceous nuclear matrix. This model has not been universally accepted because the matrix and its associated DNA are usually prepared under hypertonic conditions that could facilitate non-specific aggregation of macromolecules. We therefore investigated whether different ionic conditions can significantly affect the association of nascent DNA with the nuclear matrix in cultured mammalian cells. Matrices were prepared either by a high salt method or by hypotonic or isotonic LIS extraction. Chromosomal DNA was subsequently removed by digestion with either DNAse I or EcoRI. With all methods of preparation, we found that newly synthesized DNA preferentially partitioned with the nuclear matrix. Furthermore, when the matrix-attached DNA fraction was analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, we found that it was markedly enriched for replication forks. We therefore conclude that attachment of DNA to the matrix in the vicinity of replication forks is not induced by conditions of high ionic strength, and that replication may, indeed, occur on or near the skeletal framework provided by the nuclear matrix. From a practical standpoint, our findings suggest a strategy for greatly increasing the sensitivity of two important new gel electrophoretic methods for the direct mapping of replication fork movement through defined chromosomal domains in mammalian cells.

Probing the sulfhydryl groups of nuclear matrix proteins with 6-iodoacetamidofluorescein.

Rat liver nuclear matrices were reacted with the fluorescent dye 6-iodoacetamidofluorescein and the matrix proteins were then separated by one and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Upon transillumination with U.V. light it was possible to see that several proteins had reacted with the dy, thus indicating the presence of free -SH groups. This labelling technique allowed the detection of a large number of proteins, being several folds more sensitive than conventional Coomassie Blue staining, as demonstrated by two-dimensional electrophoretical separation. If nuclear matrices were treated with reducing agents before being reacted with 6-iodoacetamidofluorescein, the fluorescence increased with about the same intensity in all the protein bands. It is proposed that 6-iodoacetamidofluorescein can be used as a specific and very sensitive probe to study the -SH groups of nuclear matrix proteins.

[The intermediate filament-lamina-nuclear matrix system of BHK-21 cells].

We have employed collodial gold immuno-labelling in whole-mount cell and 2-D gel electrophoresis to demonstrate the intermediate filament (IF)-lamina-nuclear matrix (NM) system in BHK-21 (Baby Hamster Kidney) cells. Grown on grids, cells were gently extracted with salt solutions as previously described by S. Penman to preserve intact IF-lamina-NM systems. The extracted samples were fixed, postfixed, dehydrated and dried through the CO2 critical point, then examined under high voltage electron microscope (HVEM). The results revealed that the IF-lamina-NM system is a interconnecting network throughout the cell from cytoplasma to nuclear. The IF unit is 10 nm in diameter. IFs radiate away from the nuclear region into the spreading cytoplasm and the polarity of their distributing is obvious. The IF system closely connected to lamina. Immuno-gold labelling and 2-D gel proved that vimentin, a 55 KD protein (pI 5,6), is the major component of IFs in BHK-21 cells. Lamina can be precisely and specifically labelled with anti-lamin A, C proteins and as well as 2-D gel electrophoresis indicated that there are lamin A, B, C proteins in BHK-21 cells, whose molecular weights are 68 KD, 70 KD, 62 KD respectively. Its components are more complicated, but a few dots of NM proteins can be clearly distinguished in 2-D gel map, in which actin, a 45 KD protein (pI 4.5), might be involved. The nuclear matrix network was also clearly presented under HVEM. Its filaments can be labelled with anti-NM 298 KD protein precisely.

The nuclear matrix from cells of different origin. Evidence for a common set of matrix proteins.

We compared the protein composition of the nuclear matrix isolated from several murine embryonal carcinoma cells and mature tissues by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Two nuclear matrix fractions were investigated: the "peripheral" nuclear matrix (matrix proteins that remain insoluble after reduction), and the "internal" nuclear matrix (matrix proteins released by reduction). The two subfractions have completely different protein compositions. Although numerous differences in nuclear matrix protein composition among different cell types were observed, a limited set of polypeptides common to all mouse cell types was identified. A majority of these common proteins was also present in cells from other mammalian species (i.e. rat and human). For this set of proteins, we coin the term "minimal matrix." As expected, lamin B, known to be expressed throughout differentiation, is part of the common set of peripheral nuclear matrix proteins. Lamins A and C are not because these proteins were absent from undifferentiated embryonal carcinoma cells. Since these common nuclear matrix proteins occur in all mammalian nuclear matrices analyzed so far, it is likely that they have a basic role in nuclear organization and function.

Complexes of nuclear matrix DNA with proteins tightly bound to DNA contain a specific small-size RNA of a novel type.

Analysis of DNA-protein structures composed of nuclear matrix attached DNA and the most tightly bound proteins was performed. Although the previously described non-histone proteins (1) were present the buoyant density of the complex was the same as that of pure DNA. RNA inaccessible to RNase in 0.4 M NaCl but digestible in low ionic strength buffer was detected. This RNA is not a nascent one. It turned out to be homogeneous and represent a novel type of small nuclear RNA. Partial sequence of this RNA is presented.

Characterization of proteins immunologically related to brain microtubule-associated protein MAP-1B in non-neural cells.

Brain microtubule-associated protein MAP-1 is composed of at least two polypeptides, MAP-1A and MAP-1B, which are among the main components of the neural cytoskeleton. Specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against MAP-1B stain nuclei, mitotic spindles, centrosomes and the cytoplasmic microtubule network of different non-neural cells studied by immunofluorescence microscopy. It appears that these cells contain two proteins of 325K and 220K (K = 10(3) Mr), which are immunologically related to brain MAP-1B. The 325K protein, which is localized to the cytoplasmic microtubule network, the centrosome and the mitotic spindle, seems to be structurally related to the neural MAP-1B, as judged from their similar peptide maps and phosphorylation patterns. The 220K protein, which is localized to the nuclear matrix in interphase cells and to the mitotic spindle in dividing cells, has a proteolytic profile different from that of neural MAP-1B and is phosphorylated to a much lesser extent than the 325K protein. Both proteins bind tubulin in vitro, which suggests that they may participate in microtubule assembly in vivo; the 325K protein could perform such a role during the entire cell cycle, while the 220K protein could be implicated in the formation of the mitotic spindle.