H3.3 kinetics predicts chromatin compaction status of parental genomes in early embryos.

BACKGROUND: After fertilization, the fusion of gametes results in the formation of totipotent zygote. During sperm-egg fusion, maternal factors participate in parental chromatin remodeling. H3.3 is a histone H3 variant that plays essential roles in mouse embryogenesis. METHODS: Here, we used transgenic early embryos expressing H3.3-eGFP or H2B-mCherry to elucidate changes of histone mobility. RESULTS: We used FRAP analysis to identify that maternally stored H3.3 has a more significant change than H2B during maternal-to-embryonic transition. We also found that H3.3 mobile fraction, which may be regulated by de novo H3.3 incorporation, reflects chromatin compaction of parental genomes in GV oocytes and early embryos. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that H3.3 kinetics in GV oocytes and early embryos is highly correlated with chromatin compaction status of parental genomes, indicating critical roles of H3.3 in higher-order chromatin organization.

Histone H1-mediated transfection: serum inhibition can be overcome by Ca2+ ions.

PURPOSE: One of the drawbacks of polycationic and cationic liposomal gene transfer is its sensitivity to serum. Gene therapy requires the transfectant-DNA complex to be resistant to serum as well as blood. Since Ca2+ has proved to be an efficient cofactor of polycationic gene transfer, we decided to investigate its effects on transfection in the presence of serum. METHODS: We studied transgene expression of luciferase gene (pCMV Luc) on ECV 304 human endothelial cells using H1 histone and DOSPER as transfectants in the presence of 0-100% fetal calf serum. RESULTS: H1-and DOSPER-mediated transfection was found to be inhibited by serum above the concentration of 10%. If 2 mM Ca2+ or 2 mM Ca2+/0.1 mM chloroquine was included in the culture medium which replace the transfection mixture and was left on the cells for 24 hours postincubation, the inhibiting effect of even 100% serum was overcome. CONCLUSIONS: A high serum level does not interfere with binding and uptake of H1- and DOSPER-DNA complexes, but inhibits subsequent steps such as endosomal escape. Ca2+ in the form of nascent calcium phosphate microprecipitates and other lysosomolytical agents facilitate endosomal/lysosomal release by their fusigenic and membranolytic activity.

Inhibition of cancer cell growth by internalized immuno-histone conjugates.

MAb NS 88 directed against breast cancer cells, which is internalized and translocated to the cell nucleus, was conjugated with histone and labeled with 125I. 125I-MAb-histone complexes (M(r) 250,000) were internalized by breast and cervical cancer cells and localized in the cytoplasm and chromatin. Electrophoretic analysis of the cells extracted from the conjugates revealed the same molecular weights of the cytoplasmic and chromatin complexes as those of the native conjugate. Nicotine (0.1%), which suppresses lysosomal degradation, stabilized the conjugates within the cell and prolonged the presence of nondegraded complexes inside the cytoplasm and chromatin from 1 day to at least 3 days. MAb-histone complexes, but not MAb alone, inhibited RNA synthesis and proliferation of cervical and breast cancer cells. A new application of internalized MAbs as the vehicles for protein inhibitors of transcription or replication is discussed.

Dynamics of streptococcus histone retention by mouse kidneys.

To study the interaction of streptococcal histone-like protein with renal tissue, 2 groups of 12 mice were injected intravenously with either radioiodinated histone or bovine serum albumin. At intervals over 48 hr, 2 mice from each group were anesthetized and perfused with tissue culture medium and the amounts of radioactivity were measured in blood, urine, and kidneys. The streptococcal protein rapidly disappeared from the blood and accumulated in renal tissue. Kidney radioactivity was maximal at 2 hr and then declined steadily over the ensuing 46 hr. Retention of streptococcal protein in renal tissue was 2 orders higher than that of BSA throughout the experiment. Immunofluorescence staining of kidney sections showed that the histone protein was adsorbed to the basement membranes of the glomeruli and collecting tubules. There were similar rates of excretion of radioactivity in urine by the two groups of mice. Injection of preformed complexes of streptococcal histone and rabbit antibodies into a third group of mice resulted in deposits of immune complexes in glomeruli but did not change the overall rate at which the radiolabeled streptococcal protein was distributed. The accumulation of streptococcal histone in renal tissue, independently of antibodies or while contained in circulating immune complexes, makes it a potential virulence factor in the pathogenesis of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. Its pathogenic properties remain to be studied in an appropriate animal model.

Isolation and characterization of protein kinase C from human placenta.

Protein kinase C (Ca2+ and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase) was detected in human placenta and was partially purified using DEAE cellulose chromatography and Ultrogel filtration. Diolein alone did not act on this enzyme but exerted a strong stimulatory action when associated with phosphatidylserine and Ca2+. Similar results were obtained with the phorbol myristate acetate. The kinetic constants for ATP, histone HI or Mg2+ and the apparent Ka for Ca2+ and phosphatidylserine were determined.

Transport of histone through the blood-brain barrier.

The present studies were designed to determine if the endogenous cationic protein, e.g., histone, is capable of penetrating the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in vivo. Calf thymus histone was iodinated with [125I]iodine and was found to be taken up rapidly by isolated bovine brain capillaries used as an in vitro model system of the BBB via a time- and temperature-dependent mechanism. The binding was saturable and a Scatchard plot of the binding data was linear, yielding a KD = 15.2 +/- 2.8 microM and a maximal binding = 7.7 +/- 1.0 nmol/mg of protein. Other polycations such as protamine or polylysine markedly inhibited uptake of [125I] histone, but cationized albumin demonstrated minimal inhibition and cationized immunoglobulin caused no inhibition of bovine brain capillary uptake of [125I]histone. The in vivo brain VD of [125I] histone reached 159 +/- 70 microliters/g by 10 min of carotid arterial perfusion as compared to the 10-min VD for [3H]albumin, 17 +/- 7 microliter/g. Most of this uptake represented sequestration by the vasculature, but approximately 8% of the total histone taken up by brain was found to be transported unmetabolized (based on trichloroacetic acid precipitability of brain supernatant [( 125I]) into brain interstitium. These studies demonstrate that histone is transported through the BBB in vivo via absorptive-mediated transport. Thus, histone is an endogenous protein that is capable of transport through the BBB and may be a potential vector for pharmaceutical delivery through the BBB.

Comparative filter binding study of H5 to nucleosome core particles, H1, H5 depleted chromatosomes and DNA fragments.

The filter-binding technique with PEI treated glass fiber is used to study the interaction of histone H5 to core particles, chromatosomes and DNA derived from it. By working at very low concentrations of interacting particles we are able to study the effective binding process independent of interfering insoluble complexes. The interactions are characterized by a very high affinity. An intrinsically higher affinity of H5 for cores and chromatosomes versus chromatosome derived DNA is demonstrated. Both chromatosomes and DNA derived from these bind about twice the amount as compared to core particles, which saturate at about one H5 per core particle.