Design of Detection System for Histone Modification Patterns Using Split-Proteins

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25560412
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Chemical biology
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: SAKAMOTO Seiji 東北大学, 多元物質科学研究所, 助教 (30335228)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: エピジェネティクス / ヒストンテール / 翻訳後修飾 / 分割型タンパク質 / GFP / ルシフェラーゼ / バイオプローブ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It has been suggested that the posttranslational modifications on histone tails modulate the chromatin structure and function. Therefore, the development of a highly sensitive and specific detection system for histone modification patterns will provide new insights into intricate epigenetic mechanisms. In this study, we attempted to construct a fluorescent detection system for histone modification patterns by utilizing split-GFP. In the strategy to generate split-GFP that reassembles in response to a particular histone modification, chromatin related domains were conjugated to split-GFP fragments. We envisioned that the reassembly and functional recovery of split-GFP would be promoted only in the presence of histone tail molecules possessing particular modification patterns.

Free Research Field

生物有機化学