Ecm11 is located in the cell nucleus throughout mitosis

It was found previously that Ecm I I interacts with Cdc6 in a two-hybrid sc reen. To verify that these two gene products can actually encounter in the living cell, ECM11 was expressed as a fusion with GFP. The fusion protein w as located in the cell nucleus throughout all stages of mitosis. The protei n was detected in discrete clusters in the nucleus. Clusters may be due to Ecm11 protein polymerisation and association with discrete structures in th e nucleus. Two Ecm11 molecules interact in the two-hybrid assay, suggesting the presence of functional dimmers. Ecm11 does not promote transcription o f beta -galactosidase reporter gene, when fused with LexA DNA binding domai n and fetch to the promoter of the reporter gene. According to our observat ion, we suppose that Ecm11 is a nuclear protein involved in the upholding c hromatin structure.