High Resolution Analysis of NAC-1 Nuclear Body Mobility

Nac-1 is a newly discovered protein that forms nuclear bodies within the nucleus, yet many of its functions are still unknown. NAC1 is a member of the POZ/BTB gene family and a transcription repressor associated with the occurrence of cancer. Recently, using particle tracking techniques on green-fluorescent protein (GFP) labeled Nac-1, we identified that the aggregation state and dynamics of the Nac-1 body are affected by cell cycle; in the G1 stage, mean squared displacement (MSD) discloses that in the Nac1 nuclear body appears smaller and more confined. Once the cell develops into the G2 stage, the Nac1 nuclear body is augmented and it exhibits aggrandized motility. In addition, the nucleus staining results are shown to agree that Nac-1 aggregates have a spatial exclusion effect with chromatin, as shown by the GFP light intensity dropping in the Nac1 body location. To conclude, the activity of Nac1 nuclear bodies is cell cycle related.