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1 January 2006 Unichrom, a Novel Nuclear Matrix Protein, Binds to the Ars Insulator and Canonical MARs
Hideki Tagashira, Taishin Shimotori, Naoaki Sakamoto, Masato Katahira, Yohei Miyanoiri, Takashi Yamamoto, Keiko Mitsunaga-Nakatsubo, Hiraku Shimada, Shinichiro Kusunoki, Koji Akasaka
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Abstract

Eukaryotic genomic DNA is organized into loop structures by attachments to the nuclear matrix. These attachments to the nuclear matrix have been supposed to form the boundaries of chromosomal DNA. Insulators or boundary elements are defined by two characteristics: they interrupt promoter-enhancer communications when inserted between them, and they suppress the silencing of transgenes stably integrated into inactive chromosomal domains. We recently identified an insulator element in the upstream region of the sea urchin arylsulfatase (HpArs) gene that shows both enhancer blocking and suppression of position effects. Here, we report that Unichrom, originally identified by its G-stretch DNA binding capability, is a nuclear matrix protein that binds to the Ars insulator and canonical nuclear matrix attachment regions (MARs). We also show that Unichrom recognizes the minor groove of the AT-rich region within the Ars insulator, which may have a base-unpairing property, as well as the G-stretch DNA. Furthermore, Unichrom selectively interacts with poly(dG)•poly(dC), poly(dA)•poly(dT) and poly(dAT)•poly(dAT), but not with poly(dGC)•poly(dGC). Unichrom also shows high affinity for single-stranded G- and C-stretches. We discuss the DNA binding motif of Unichrom and the function of Unichrom in the nuclear matrix.

Hideki Tagashira, Taishin Shimotori, Naoaki Sakamoto, Masato Katahira, Yohei Miyanoiri, Takashi Yamamoto, Keiko Mitsunaga-Nakatsubo, Hiraku Shimada, Shinichiro Kusunoki, and Koji Akasaka "Unichrom, a Novel Nuclear Matrix Protein, Binds to the Ars Insulator and Canonical MARs," Zoological Science 23(1), 9-21, (1 January 2006). https://doi.org/10.2108/zsj.23.9
Received: 17 August 2005; Accepted: 1 October 2005; Published: 1 January 2006
KEYWORDS
DNA binding
insulator
MAR
matrix attachment region
nuclear matrix
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