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Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Unveiling Histone Proteoforms using 2D-TAU Gel Electrophoresis
Published on: October 18, 2024
Prothymosin alpha associates with the oncoprotein SET and is involved in chromatin decondensation
Zoe Karetsou1, Goran Martic, Sotiria Tavoulari
1Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 451 10 Ioannina, Greece.
Abstract:
Prothymosin alpha (ProTalpha) is a histone H1-binding protein that interacts with the transcription coactivator CREB-binding protein and potentiates transcription. Based on coimmunoprecipitation and mammalian two-hybrid assays, we show here that ProTalpha forms a complex with the oncoprotein SET. ProTalpha efficiently decondenses human sperm chromatin, while overexpression of GFP-ProTalpha in mammalian cells results in global chromatin decondensation. These results indicate that decondensation of compacted chromatin fibers is an important step in the mechanism of ProTalpha function.
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