Study of the HELLS chromatin remodeller
The HELLS protein belongs to the family of chromatin-remodeling ATPases. These specialized motor proteins utilize the energy generated from ATP hydrolysis to reposition or remove nucleosomes. HELLS is involved in the establishment of DNA methylation, especially at repetitive pericentromeric sequences. In this paper, we studied the localization of HELLS and show that it co-localizes with Dnmt3b at pericentromeric chromatin. Using cellular fractionation, microscopy imaging and FRAP, we have investigated the interaction of HELLS with chromatin. These experiments established for the first time the importance of the ATPase activity for the release of HELLS from pericentromeric heterochromatin.