Open AccessA survey of H1 0 ‐ and H5‐like protein structure and distribution in higher and lower eukaryotes
Author(s) -
SMITH Bryan J.,
HARRIS Martin R.,
SIGOURNAY Catherine M.,
MAYES Elaine L. V.,
BUSTIN Michael
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
european journal of biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1432-1033
pISSN - 0014-2956
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1984.tb07916.x
Subject(s) - xenopus , histone , biology , protein family , genetics , dna , microbiology and biotechnology , gene
A survey of H1° and H5‐like proteins has been conducted through a range of higher and lower eukaryotic species. All mammals examined possessed H1° proteins, although in variable amounts, and the protein's structure was well conserved, though not invariant. The testis‐specific histone Hlt (from rat) did not have an H1°‐like structure and it appears that H1° does not occur in spermatocytes in any form. The results also show that Xenopus laevis contains H1°‐like proteins, but lower, non‐vertebrate eukaryotes (a crustacean, two fungi and a plant tissue) do not possess H1° or H5 proteins. The evidence suggests that H1° and H5 proteins may be considered as belonging to one family, distinct from H1 types. This H1°/H5 family may well be ‘replacement histone’ variants of H1. The results do not support suggestions of roles such as repression of DNA synthesis or of transcription for H1°/H5 proteins.