Characterization of genome-nucleoporin interactions in Drosophila links chromatin insulators to the nuclear pore complex

Cell Cycle. 2010 Dec 15;9(24):4812-7. doi: 10.4161/cc.9.24.14328. Epub 2010 Dec 15.

Abstract

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are multiprotein complexes consisting of nucleoporins and function in transport between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. In yeast, nucleoporins have also been linked to gene expression as well as to chromatin insulating activity. Recently, we identified genomic regions that interact with nucleoporins in Drosophila using DamID technology. We found that nucleoporins in the nucleoplasm interact with active genes and stimulate gene expression. However, genes interacting with nucleoporins at the NPC itself show average gene expression and it remains unclear why they interact with the NPC. Here, we further investigated the function of the genome-NPC interactions. First, to investigate whether a different technique would lead to similar results, we compared our nucleoporin DamID data to recently published nucleoporin chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) data. Then, to further understand the function of interactions between the genome and NPCs, we analyzed the relationship between NPC-interacting genomic regions and chromatin insulators. We found that the insulator protein Su(Hw) was enriched within and near NPC-interacting genomic regions, suggesting a role of this protein in chromatin architecture close to the NPC. This suggests that the NPC may have a function in the structural organization of the genome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatin / metabolism*
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism*
  • Genome*
  • Nuclear Pore / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins
  • nuclear pore complex protein 98