Fruit fly: novel method to study nuclear matrix

Last Updated29/08/2022

Every cell that makes up an organism contains a copy of its genome packaged in special ways with the help of a structure - nuclear matrix.
- Gives an organisation and architecture to the nucleus.
The nuclear matrix of fruit flies, for instance, has been studied for many years, mainly by isolating it in nuclei taken out from fruit fly embryos.

The study was done without removing the nucleus from the embryo.
Allows comparative study of nuclear matrix in different cells within the embryo.

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There are different ways in which the genome is folded and packaged in different types of cells.
These enzymes digest proteins and are active in the intestine.
The intestine contains a lining that prevents these enzymes from digesting the proteins present there, thereby protecting the intestine.
The same are found in the brain cells also.
If they were allowed to be active, they would digest the brain cells which do not have the protective epithelium, and that would be disastrous.
So, the genome, despite carrying all the genetic material, is packaged such that some genetic material is hidden in such a way that it is never seen by transcription machinery.

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The researchers collect embryos which are between zero and 16 hours old.
They make, for the first time, the in situ nuclear matrix preparation using this entire collection of embryos.
Then, they image them.
In early developmental stages, they are made up of nuclei only, or just making a monolayer of nuclei across the embryos or have gone through differentiation.

Earlier, single molecules were tracked such as DNA-binding regulatory proteins, typically, studying one at a time.
This new method will open new avenues for studying complex regulatory processes.
It will help to study nuclear organisation using genetic and cell biology approaches limited earlier only to biochemical approaches.