Dynamic relocation of chromosomal protein HMG-17 in the nucleus is dependent on transcriptional activity

Chromosomal proteins HMG-14/-17 are nucleosomal binding proteins, which alter the structure of the chromatin fiber and enhance transcription, but only from chromatin templates. Here we show that in tissue culture cells, HMG-17 protein colocalizes with sites of active transcription. Incubation of permeabilized cells with a peptide corresponding to the nucleosomal binding domains of HMG-14/-17 specifically arrested polymerase II-dependent transcription. In these cells the peptide displaces HMG-17 from chromatin and reduces the cellular content of the protein. These results suggest that the presence of HMG-14/-17 in chromatin is required for efficient polymerase II transcription. In non-permeabilized, actively transcribing cells, the protein is dispersed in a punctate pattern, throughout the nucleus. Upon transcriptional inhibition by alpha-amanitin or actinomycin D, the protein gradually redistributes until it localizes fully to interchromatin granule clusters, together with the splicing factor SC35. The results suggest that the association of HMG-17 with chromatin is dynamic rather than static, and that in the absence of transcription, HMG-17 is released from chromatin and accumulates in interchromatin granule clusters. Thus, the intranuclear distribution of chromosomal proteins which act as architectural elements of chromatin structure may be dynamic and functionally related to the transcriptional activity of the cell.