From silencing to gene expression: Real-time analysis in single cells

Susan M. Janicki, Toshiro Tsukamoto, Simone E. Salghetti, William P. Tansey, Ravi Sachidanandam, Kannanganattu V. Prasanth, Thomas Ried, Yaron Shav-Tal, Edouard Bertrand, Robert H. Singer, David L. Spector

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

570 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have developed an inducible system to visualize gene expression at the levels of DNA, RNA and protein in living cells. The system is composed of a 200 copy transgene array integrated into a euchromatic region of chromosome 1 in human U2OS cells. The condensed array is heterochromatic as it is associated with HP1, histone H3 methylated at lysine 9, and several histone methyltransferases. Upon transcriptional induction, HP1α is depleted from the locus and the histone variant H3.3 is deposited suggesting that histone exchange is a mechanism through which heterochromatin is transformed into a transcriptionally active state. RNA levels at the transcription site increase immediately after the induction of transcription and the rate of synthesis slows over time. Using this system, we are able to correlate changes in chromatin structure with the progression of transcriptional activation allowing us to obtain a real-time integrative view of gene expression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)683-698
Number of pages16
JournalCell
Volume116
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 5 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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