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Biochemical and functional characterization of histone H1-like proteins in procyclicTrypanosoma brucei brucei

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Abstract

Four variants and/or posttranslational modifications of histone H1-like proteins ofTrypanosoma brucei brucei procyclic culture forms were extracted with 0.25N HCl from isolated nuclei and analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The amino acid composition of these proteins, their ability to space nucleosomes regularly and to induce salt-dependent condensation of the chromatin indicated their histone H1 nature. On the other hand, the histone H1-like proteins clearly differed from their higher-eukaryote counterparts by their weak interaction with DNA under low-salt conditions. As a consequence, intact nucleosome filaments were prepared according to a new preparation protocol especially adapted to the unstable chromatin ofT. b. brucei. Our results indicate that the biochemical properties of the histone H1-like proteins contribute to the structural and functional differences between the chromatin of procyclicT. b. brucei and that of higher eukaryotes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swiss Tropical Institute, Basel, Switzerland

    Markus Burri, Wolfram Schlimme, Bruno Betschart & Hermann Hecker

  2. Institute of Biochemistry, Berne, Switzerland

    Urs Kämpfer & Johann Schaller

Authors
  1. Markus Burri
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  2. Wolfram Schlimme
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  3. Bruno Betschart
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  4. Urs Kämpfer
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  5. Johann Schaller
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  6. Hermann Hecker
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Burri, M., Schlimme, W., Betschart, B. et al. Biochemical and functional characterization of histone H1-like proteins in procyclicTrypanosoma brucei brucei . Parasitol Res 79, 649–659 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00932507

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00932507

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