title: The ubiquitous chromatin protein DEK alters the structure of DNA by introducing positive supercoils.
abstract: We have investigated the molecular mechanism by which the proto-oncogene protein DEK, an abundant chromatin-associated protein, changes the topology of DNA in chromatin in vitro. Band-shift assays and electron microscopy revealed that DEK induces both intra- and intermolecular interactions between DNA molecules. Binding of the DEK protein introduces constrained positive supercoils both into protein-free DNA and into DNA in chromatin. The induced change in topology is reversible after removal of the DEK protein. As shown by sedimentation analysis and electron microscopy, the DEK-induced positive supercoiling causes distinct structural changes of DNA and chromatin. The observed direct effects of DEK on chromatin folding help to understand the function that this major chromatin protein performs in the nucleus.
authors: Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors: Tanja
authors: T
authors: Waldmann
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Eckerich
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Baack
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Gruss
mesh_terms: D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D004278:DNA, Superhelical / Q000737:chemistry*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011485:Protein Binding; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D004278:DNA, Superhelical; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D005982:Glutathione Transferase