A constitutively transcribed actin gene is associated with the nuclear matrix in a Drosophila cell line

• Published in: In vitro cellular & developmental biology Vol. 21; no. 11; pp. 641 - 648
• Main Authors: Intres, R, Donady, J.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Largo, MD Society for In Vitro Biology 01-11-1985
• Subjects: ACTIN; Actins - genetics; Actins - isolation & purification; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cell nucleus; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Cell Nucleus - ultrastructure; Cell structures and functions; CULTIVO DE TEJIDOS; CULTURE DE TISSUS; Cytoplasm - metabolism; DNA Replication; DROSOPHILA; Drosophila melanogaster - genetics; Drosophila melanogaster - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GENE; GENES; Kinetics; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular Weight; Myosins - genetics; NOYAU CELLULAIRE; NUCLEO; NUCLEUS; PROTEINAS; PROTEINE; PROTEINS; TISSUE CULTURE; Transcription, Genetic; Nucleoskeleton; Cell line; Transcription; Arthropoda; Insecta; Actins; Invertebrata
• ISSN: 0883-8364; 2327-431X

The relationship between transcriptional activity and gene association with the nuclear matrix has been investigated in Drosophila melanogaster. The nuclear matrix of Schneider cell line 2 of Drosophila was isolated and observed to conform to expected dimensions in phase contrast and scanning electron microscopic preparations. This structure contains proteins that appear similar to the intact nucleus. High salt extracted nuclei digested with DNase I released 98% of the DNA, whereas digestion with Eco RI released a maximum of 80%. These and other nuclease digestions indicate that satellite DNA as well as some unique sequence DNA are bound to the nuclear matrix. A constitutively transcribed actin gene was enriched in the nuclear matrix bound DNA. Two other nontranscribed genes, a muscle-specific actin gene and the myosin heavy chain gene, showed no enrichment in nuclear matrix DNA.