Barrier-to-autointegration factor: major roles in chromatin decondensation and nuclear assembly.

ABSTRACT: Barrier-to-autointegration factor (BAF) is a DNA-bridging protein, highly conserved in metazoans. BAF binds directly to LEM (LAP2, emerin, MAN1) domain nuclear membrane proteins, including LAP2 and emerin. We used site-directed mutagenesis and biochemical analysis to map functionally important residues in human BAF, including those required for direct binding to DNA or emerin. We also tested wild-type BAF and 25 point mutants for their effects on nuclear assembly in Xenopus egg extracts, which contain approximately 12 microM endogenous BAF dimers. Exogenous BAF caused two distinct effects: at low added concentrations, wild-type BAF enhanced chromatin decondensation and nuclear growth; at higher added concentrations, wild-type BAF completely blocked chromatin decondensation and nuclear grow

SUBMITTER: Segura-Totten M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2173821 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature