Chromosome binding

Kolesnikova, T.D., Makunin, TV., Volkova, E.L, Pirrotta, V, Belyaeva, E.S. and Zhimulev, l.F. (2005) Functional dissection of the Suppressor of UnderReplication protein of Drosophila melanogaster identification of domains influencing chromosome binding and DNA replication. Genetica, 124,187-200. 

One of the most interesting demonstration that telomere is a significant target for these ligands has been provided by a study using a radiolabelled G-quadruplex ligand. The localization of the chromosomal binding sites of a... 

There are many observations that suggest eukaryote chromosomes may be attached in definite positions to the nuclear membrane (see Comings, 1967). However specific questions remain unanswered. For example, do eukaryote chromosomes bind at different functional sites on the nuclear membrane at a transient site for the initiation of DNA synthesis, and, at other fixed sites to maintain a polarized chromosome position within the nucleus for segregation during mitosis. 

Cohesin is a chromosome-binding protein that is involved in meiotic and mitotic assembly and segregation of sister chromatids (Heck 1997). In many vertebrate species, cell cyde progression through anaphase involves a proteolytic deavage of cohesin, as catalyzed by separase and subsequent release of cohesin from the sister chromatids, so that the... 

DeCamiUis M., Cheng N.S., Pierre D., and Brock H.W. 1992. The polyhomeotic gene of Drosophila encodes a chromatin protein that shares polytene chromosome-binding sites with Polycomb. Genes Dev. 6 223-232. 

Platero J.S., Csink A.K., QuintanUla A., and Henikofif S. 1998. Changes in chromosomal localization of heterochromatin-binding proteins during the ceU cycle in Drosophila. J. Cell Biol. 140 1297—1306. Rastelli L., Chan C.S., and Pirrotta V. 1993. Related chromosome binding sites for zeste, suppressors of zeste and Polycomb group proteins in Drosophila and their dependence on Enhancer cf zeste function. EMBO J. 12 1513-1522. 

Mapping functional protein domains necessary for chromosomal binding or other activities, such as the interaction with other partner proteins (Kuroda et al. 1991 Messmer et al. 1992 Rastelli et al. 1993 Platero et al. 1995). 

In the human cell there are 23 pairs of chromosomes containing approximately 3000 million base pairs of DNA. Short sequences of DNA, perhaps with as few as 20 nucleotide units and sometimes radiolabeled, can be obtained either by chemical synthesis (gene machine) or from cloning. These short sequences can be used to probe for a complementary sequence by looking for the position to which they bind to any DNA sample under investigation, from blood for example. Such probes can detect as little as 100 fg of DNA and are the basis of forensic genetic fingerprinting tests. 

Ethylene oxide has been shown to produce mutagenic and cytogenic effects in a variety of test systems (226). An increased frequency of chromosomal aberrations in peripheral lymphocytes of monkey exposed to ethylene oxide for 104 weeks has been reported (240). In mice, it is an effective inducer of chromosome breaks leading to dominant-lethal mutations. In addition, ethylene oxide has been shown to induce heritable effects in the heritable translocation test conducted in mice exposed to ethylene oxide by inhalation (241,242). In this study, male mice were exposed to ethylene oxide ranging from 165 to 300 ppm for 6 h per day 5 or 7 days/week for 8.5 weeks. Ethylene oxide has also been shown to bind to proteins (243) as well as to DNA (244). Several studies on ethylene oxide-exposed workers have demonstrated an increased incidence of chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges the relevance of such effects to human health evaluation is currendy uncertain. 

Histone H3 Histones are DNA-binding proteins found in chromosomes 135 amino acid residues. Note die very basic nature of this protein dne to its abmidance of Arg and Lys residues. It also lacks tryptophan. 

Type IEI IFNs, also named EFN-kl, -k2, and -k3 or EL-28A, B, and IL-29, respectively also display EFN-like activities and are induced by most viruses that also give rise to type I EFN production. The genes are located on human chromosome 1 and contain several introns. EFN-k binds to two receptor chains distinct from type I and type II EFNs named EFNLR-1 and IL-10R2 the latter being a common chain for EL-10 and IL-22. Signaling... 

Several groups of drugs that bind to tubulin at different sites interfere with its polymerization into microtubules. These drugs are of experimental and clinical importance (Bershadsky and Vasiliev, 1988). For example, colchicine, an alkaloid derived from the meadow saffron plant Colchicum autumnale or Colchicum speciosum), is the oldest and most widely studied of these drugs. It forms a molecular complex with tubulin in the cytosol pool and prevents its polymerization into microtubules. Other substances such as colcemid, podophyllotoxin, and noco-dazole bind to the tubulin molecule at the same site as colchicine and produce a similar effect, albeit with some kinetic differences. Mature ciliary microtubules are resistant to colchicine, whereas those of the mitotic spindle are very sensitive. Colchicine and colcemid block cell division in metaphase and are widely used in cytogenetic studies of cultured cells to enhance the yield of metaphase plate chromosomes. 

DNA-binding mechanism that does not involve DNA damage or disruption of chromosomal integrity [86]. 

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