Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026

Radionuclide-fluorescence Reporter Gene Imaging to Track Tumor Progression in Rodent Tumor Models
Published on: March 13, 2018
Nuclear localization of reporter genes activated by curved DNA
Koji Udagawa1, Hajime Kimura, Hideyuki Tanabe
1Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan.
Abstract:
Curved DNA structures with a left-handed superhelical conformation can activate eukaryotic transcription. Mechanistically, these structures favor binding to histone cores and can function as a docking site for sliding nucleosomes. Thus, promoters with this kind of curved DNA can adopt a more open structure, facilitating transcription initiation. However, whether the curved DNA segment can affect localization of a reporter gene is an open question. Localization of a gene in the nucleus often plays an important role in its expression and this phenomenon may also have a curved DNA-dependent mechanism. We examined this issue in transient and stable assay systems using a 180-bp synthetic curved DNA with a left-handed superhelical conformation. The results clearly showed that curved DNA of this kind does not have a property to deliver reporter constructs to nuclear positions that are preferable for transcription. We also identify the spatial location to which electroporation delivers a reporter plasmid in the nucleus.
Related Concept Videos
Reporter Genes
Commonly used reporter...
Nuclear Localization Signals and Import
Labeling DNA Probes
Radioisotopes, fluorophores, or small molecule binding partners like biotin or digoxigenin, are the most widely used reporter tags for labeling DNA probes. These labels can be attached to the probe DNA molecule via...
Nuclear Protein Sorting
Proteins targeted to the nucleus carry nuclear localization signals or NLS recognized by import receptors in the cytosol. Similarly, proteins with nuclear export signals are recognized by export receptors. Import and export receptors are...
Chromatin Position Affects Gene Expression
Topologically Associated Domains (TADs)
The 3-dimensional positioning of chromatin in the nucleus influences the timing and level of...
Regulation of Nuclear Protein Sorting

