Vertebrate Arp6, a novel nuclear actin-related protein, interacts with heterochromatin protein 1.
Actin-related proteins (Arps) were recently shown to contribute to the organization and regulation of chromatin structures. The nuclear functions of Arps have been investigated principally in budding yeast in which six of the ten Arp subfamilies are localized in the nucleus. In vertebrates, only two isoforms of Arp4 have so far been identified as showing localization to the nucleus. Here we show the predominant nuclear localization of another Arp subfamily, Arp6, in vertebrate cells. Vertebrate Arp6 directly interacted with heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) orthologs and the two proteins colocalized in pericentric heterochromatin. Yeast Arp6 is involved in telomere silencing, while Drosophila Arp6 is localized in the pericentric heterochromatin. Our data strongly suggest that Arp6 has an evolutionarily conserved role in heterochromatin formation and also provide new insights into the molecular organization of heterochromatin.
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Tsutsumidori-Amamiyamachi 1-1, Aoba-ku, Sendai 981-8555, Japan.
Eri
E
Ohfuchi
Megumi
M
Kato
Mitsuho
M
Sasaki
Kenji
K
Sugimoto
Yukako
Y
Oma
Masahiko
M
Harata
D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques
C431141:ACTR6 protein, human; D000199:Actins; C498981:Arp6 protein, Gallus gallus; D030161:Avian Proteins; C113542:CHCB1 protein, chicken; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000090266:Chromobox Protein Homolog 5