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Ku-related antigens are associated with transcriptionally active loci inChironomus polytene chromosomes

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Abstract

Antigens ofChironomus reactive with human sera containing anti-Ku antibodies and also with specific antibodies to each Ku subunit were characterized by immunoblot analysis. Three main antigen species were identified in nuclear-enriched extracts from salivary gland cells ofChironomus thummi, ranging in Mr from 55000 to 67000. The nuclear localization of Ku-related antigens in the dipteranChironomus was studied by immunofluorescent labeling in polytene chromosomes of the salivary glands. Balbiani rings, loci highly active in transcription, were found to be strongly labeled by anti-Ku antibodies. Sugar-induced changes in the activity of the Balbiani ring genes were accompanied by the redistribution of Ku-related antigens as visualized by their absence in regressed Balbiani ring loci, and continued presence only in those that were transcriptionally active. A drastic change in the distribution of Ku-related antigens was also observed whenC. thummi larvae underwent heat treatment as the immunofluorescent staining was restricted to previously described heat shock puffs. Anti-Ku sera reacted in addition with several chromosomal bands in which the presence of RNA polymerase II was also immunologically detected. The results show thatChironomus antigens reactive with anti-Ku antibodies are related to transcription in polytene chromosomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Velázquez 144, E-28006, Madrid, Spain

    Eduardo Gorab, Luisa Maria Botella & José Luís Díez

  2. Veterinary Pathology, Summerhall Square, University of Edinburgh, EH9 1QH, Edinburgh, Scotland

    John Peter Quinn

  3. Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 11461, CEP 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    José Mariano Amabis

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  1. Eduardo Gorab
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  2. Luisa Maria Botella
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  3. John Peter Quinn
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  4. José Mariano Amabis
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  5. José Luís Díez
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Edited by: W. Hennig

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Gorab, E., Botella, L.M., Quinn, J.P. et al. Ku-related antigens are associated with transcriptionally active loci inChironomus polytene chromosomes. Chromosoma 105, 150–157 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02509496

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02509496

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