Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2026
14:40
Expression Analysis of Mammalian Linker-histone Subtypes
Published on: March 19, 2012
Is the sigma2 receptor a histone binding protein?
Nicola Antonio Colabufo1, Francesco Berardi, Carmen Abate
1Dipartimento Farmacochimico, Università degli Studi di Bari, via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy. colabufo@farmchim.uniba.it
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
|July 11, 2006
Summary
Researchers identified histone proteins bound to a sigma-2 receptor ligand. This suggests the sigma-2 receptor may be composed of histones or that its ligands interact with histones.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The sigma-2 receptor is a target for neurodegenerative diseases.
- High-affinity ligands like PB28 are used to study sigma-2 receptor interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify proteins that bind to a sigma-2 receptor ligand.
- To investigate the molecular composition of the sigma-2 receptor.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of an amino derivative of PB28 coupled to a sepharose stationary phase.
- Affinity chromatography using lysed human neuroblastoma cells.
- Protein identification via SDS-PAGE, MALDI-MS, and LC-MS-MS analysis.
Main Results:
- Six human histone proteins (H3.3A, H2B, H2A.5, H1, H2.1) were eluted.
- Molecular weights of eluted proteins ranged from 13 kDa to 26 kDa.
- Human 40S ribosomal protein S3 was also identified.
Conclusions:
- The sigma-2 receptor may be composed of histone proteins.
- Sigma-2 receptor ligands might bind to histone proteins.
Related Concept Videos
02:10The Nucleosome Core Particle
Nucleosomes are the DNA-histone complex, where the DNA strand is wound around the histone core. The histone core is an octamer containing two copies of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histone proteins.
The paradox
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their main responsibility is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. While on the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access DNA...
The paradox
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their main responsibility is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. While on the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access DNA...
02:32Histone Modification
The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
02:04Co-activators and Co-repressors
Gene transcription is regulated by the synergistic action of several proteins that form a complex at a gene regulatory site. This is observed in eukaryotes, where the regulation of gene expression is a complex process. Regulatory proteins in eukaryotes can broadly be classified into two types – regulators that bind directly to specific DNA sequences and co-regulators that associate with regulatory proteins but cannot directly bind to the DNA. These co-regulators are further divided into...
02:32Histone Modification
The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
01:20The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway
Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as SH2...
01:12The Nucleosome Core Particle
Nucleosomes are the DNA-histone complex, where the DNA strand is wound around the histone core. The histone core is an octamer containing two copies of H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histone proteins.
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their primary aim is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. On the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access histone-bound DNA during...
Nucleosomes, paradoxically, perform two opposite functions simultaneously. On the one hand, their primary aim is to protect the delicate DNA strands from physical damage and help achieve a higher compaction ratio. On the other hand, they must allow polymerase enzymes to access histone-bound DNA during...