Abstract
Two genes have been cloned from the ciliate Euplotes crassus that encode proteins with sequence similarity to the linker histones from a variety of organisms. One gene, H1-1, is present on a 1.3-kb macronuclear DNA molecule and encodes a 16.2-kDa protein. The second gene; H1-2, is present on a 0.7- kb DNA molecule and encodes an 18.8-kDa protein. Both H1-1 and H1-2 are expressed in vegetative cells, but the two genes exhibit very different patterns of expression during macronuclear development. H1-1 transcripts accumulate during conjugation and during the final rounds of DNA amplification. H1-2 transcripts accumulate after the onset of polytene chromosome formation and remain high throughout the remainder of macronuclear development. H1-1 is the major perchloric-acid-soluble protein from macronuclei. The pattern of gene expression and the macronuclear location of the H1-1 protein indicate that H1-1 is the predominant linker histone in vegetative macronuclei.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 15-20 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Gene |
Volume | 231 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 29 1999 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Chromatin
- Ciliate
- Histone H1
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics