Abstract
Histone modifications might act to mark and maintain functional chromatin domains during both interphase and mitosis. Here we show that pericentric heterochromatin in mammalian cells is specifically responsive to prolonged treatment with deacetylase inhibitors. These defined regions relocate at the nuclear periphery and lose their properties of retaining HP1 (heterochromatin protein 1) proteins. Subsequent defects in chromosome segregation arise in mitosis. All these changes can reverse rapidly after drug removal. Our data point to a crucial role of histone underacetylation within pericentric heterochromatin regions for their association with HP1 proteins, their nuclear compartmentalization and their contribution to centromere function.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Blotting, Western
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Cell Cycle / drug effects
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Cell Cycle / physiology
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Cell Line
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Cell Nucleus / drug effects*
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Cell Nucleus / enzymology
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Cell Nucleus / metabolism
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Centromere / metabolism*
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DNA / metabolism
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Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
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Heterochromatin / metabolism*
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Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors*
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Histone Deacetylases / metabolism
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Histones / metabolism*
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Humans
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Hydroxamic Acids / pharmacology*
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In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
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Mice
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Microscopy, Confocal
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Protein Structure, Tertiary
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Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
Substances
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Enzyme Inhibitors
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Heterochromatin
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Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
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Histones
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Hydroxamic Acids
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Recombinant Proteins
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trichostatin A
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DNA
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Histone Deacetylases