The role of the plant-specific DNA-interacting 3xHMG-box proteins in mitosis (and meiosis)
Final Report Abstract
During this project, we clearly made progress towards elucidating the role of this plantspecific group of DNA-binding proteins, whose expression is (by transcriptional control in combination with regulated protein degradation) restricted to mitosis (and meiosis). We think that our integrated data, i.e. the finding that 3xHMG-box proteins basically consist of a series of DNA-binding domains and their temporal expression that parallels mitotic chromosome condensation, point to a function of the 3xHMG-box proteins in chromatin compaction during mitosis. However, other possibilities are conceivable. To functionally test that, ideally we need plants expressing altered (reduced) levels of the 3xHMG-box proteins, but as mentioned above, this part of the project despite great efforts proved problematic. We are still working to overcome this issue. An economic exploitation is not in sight. Perhaps the 3xHMG-box promoters may be of interest to colleagues, who are interested in driving mitosisspecific gene expression, although there are various alternatives.
Publications
- (2012) Plant proteins containing HMG-box DNA-binding domains modulate different nuclear processes. Plant Physiol. 159, 875-883
Antosch, M., Mortensen, S.A. and Grasser, K.D.
- (2015) Mitotic lifecycle of chromosomal 3xHMG-box proteins and role of their N-terminal domain in the association with rDNA loci and proteolysis. New Phytol. 208, 1067-1077
Antosch, M., Schubert, V., Holzinger, P., Houben, A. and Grasser, K.D.
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13575)
