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Dynamics of gene expression regulatory proteins in the living cell nucleus

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Abstract

The intricate physical interaction of transcription factors with specific target genes in the genome has long been regarded as a fundamental mechanism of cell-type specific gene expression. However, due to insufficient spatiotemporal resolution of microscopy techniques, direct visualization of protein dynamics within the nuclei of living cells had not been achieved for decades. Resolving existing limitations, recent advances in imaging techniques enabled the direct observation of protein dynamics, even at a single-molecule level. In addition, the new imaging techniques accomplished capturing higher-order chromatin structures that influence gene expression regulation along with transcription factor dynamics. This review discusses the recent applications of microscopy techniques to investigate the dynamics of nuclear proteins in living cells and their achievements.

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Acknowledgements

This article is written by researchers supported by Basic Science Research Programs through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (2019R1A6A1A10073887) and the Ministry of Science and ICT (2020R1C1C1014599; 2019M3A9H1103711).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Deahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea

    Hwanyong Shim, Tae Lim Park & Won-Ki Cho

  2. KI for Health Science and Technology (KIHST), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Deahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea

    Won-Ki Cho

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  1. Hwanyong Shim
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Correspondence to Won-Ki Cho.

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Shim, H., Park, T.L. & Cho, WK. Dynamics of gene expression regulatory proteins in the living cell nucleus. J. Korean Phys. Soc. 78, 379–385 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40042-020-00043-5

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