Premium
A development‐specific histone H3 localizes to the developing macronucleus of Euplotes
Author(s) -
Ghosh Susmita,
Klobutcher Lawrence A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1526-968x(200003)26:3<179::aid-gene3>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - macronucleus , biology , chromatin , nucleosome , histone h3 , histone , ciliate , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , dna
Summary: During the process of macronuclear development, the ciliate Euplotes crassus undergoes extensive programmed DNA rearrangement. Previous studies have identified a gene, H 3( P ), that is expressed only during sexual reproduction and is predicted to encode a variant histone H3 protein. In the current study, an antiserum to the H3(P) protein has been generated. The antiserum has been used to demonstrate that H3(P) is maximally expressed during the polytene chromosome stage of macronuclear development. Moreover, H3(P) is localized to the developing macronucleus, but not other nuclei present within the cell. Additional studies indicate that at least one additional variant histone is also present within the developing macronucleus. The results indicate that there are significant changes in nucleosome composition within the developing macronucleus, and provide additional support for the notion that changes in chromatin structure play a role in the DNA rearrangement processes of macronuclear development. genesis 26:179–188, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.