Tissue Specificity of the Hormonal Response in Sex Accessory Tissues Is Associated with Nuclear Matrix Protein Patterns

Abstract

The DNA of interphase nuclei have very specific three-dimensional organizations that are different in different cell types, and it is possible that this varying DNA organization is responsible for the tissue specificity of gene expression. The nuclear matrix organizes the three-dimensional structure of the DNA and is believed to be involved in the control of gene expression. This study compares the nuclear structural proteins between two sex accessory tissues in the same animal responding to the same androgen stimulation by the differential expression of major tissue-specific secretory proteins. We demonstrate here that the nuclear matrix is tissue specific in the rat ventral prostate and seminal vesicle, and undergoes characteristic alterations in its protein composition upon androgen withdrawal. Three types of nuclear matrix proteins were observed: 1) nuclear matrix proteins that are different and tissue specific in the rat ventral prostate and seminal vesicle, 2) a set of nuclear matrix proteins that either appear or disappear upon androgen withdrawal, and 3) a set of proteins that are common to both the ventral prostate and seminal vesicle and do not change with the hormonal state of the animal. Since the nuclear matrix is known to bind androgen receptors in a tissue- and steroid-specific manner, we propose that the tissue specificity of the nuclear matrix arranges the DNA in a unique conformation, which may be involved in the specific interaction of transcription factors with DNA sequences, resulting in tissue-specific patterns of secretory protein expression.

The Protein Composition of the Hepatocyte Nuclear Matrix Is Differentiation‐Stage Specific

“…These ndings are in agreement with the increasing body of evidence demonstrating that different regulatory proteins are components of the nuclear matrix (22,(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32). The dynamic interactions of C/EBPa and PCNA with the nuclear matrix during liver development lend further support to the concept that the nuclear matrix facilitates gene expression by concentrating and localizing regulatory proteins near their target sites.…”

Rethinking cell structure.

“…An important impetus comes from finding nuclear matrix proteins that are cell-type specific (27)(28)(29) and others that are markers of malignancy (30)(31)(32). Direct measurements of transcription show nuclear matrix participation in its regulation (5).…”

Altered Expression and Localization of Creatine Kinase B, Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein F, and High Mobility Group Box 1 Protein in the Nuclear Matrix Associated with Colon Cancer

“…The nuclear matrix maintains nuclear architecture by organizing the genome and supporting macromolecular assemblies that dictate DNA replication, transcription, and mRNA processing (9). Nuclear abnormalities are a common feature in cancer cells and it is hypothesized that such aberrations reflect altered nuclear matrix proteins (10). As a result, detection assays founded on nuclear matrix protein alterations are highly specific, showing promise in early detection as well as therapy of cancers.…”