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The Extrachromosomal EAST Protein of Drosophila Can Associate with Polytene Chromosomes and Regulate Gene Expression

Journal Article · · PLoS ONE
 [1];  [2]
  1. Bioinformatics Institute, (Singapore); National University of Singapore (Singapore); DOE/OSTI
  2. National University of Singapore (Singapore)
+ Show Author Affiliations
The EAST protein of Drosophila is a component of an expandable extrachromosomal domain of the nucleus. To better understand its function, we studied the dynamics and localization of GFP-tagged EAST. In live larval salivary glands, EAST-GFP is highly mobile and localizes to the extrachromosomal nucleoplasm. When these cells are permeabilized, EAST-GFP rapidly associated with polytene chromosomes. The affinity to chromatin increases and mobility decreases with decreasing salt concentration. Deleting the C-terminal residues 1535 to 2301 of EAST strongly reduces the affinity to polytene chromosomes. The bulk of EAST-GFP co-localizes with heterochromatin and is absent from transcriptionally active chromosomal regions. The predominantly chromosomal localization of EAST-GFP can be detected in non-detergent treated salivary glands of pupae as they undergo apoptosis, however not in earlier stages of development. Consistent with this chromosomal pattern of localization, genetic evidence indicates a role for EAST in the repression of gene expression, since a lethal east mutation is allelic to the viable mutation suppressor of white-spotted. We propose that EAST acts as an ion sensor that modulates gene expression in response to changing intracellular ion concentrations.
Research Organization:
National University of Singapore (Singapore)
Sponsoring Organization:
Temasek LifeSciences Laboratories
OSTI ID:
1627332
Journal Information:
PLoS ONE, Journal Name: PLoS ONE Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 2; ISSN 1932-6203
Publisher:
Public Library of Science
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
apoptosis
chromatin
detergents
gene expression
gene regulation
larvae
polytene chromosomes
salivary glands