Association of human DNA topoisomerase IIα with mitotic chromosomes in mammalian cells is independent of its catalytic activity

DNA topoisomerase (topo) II is an essential nuclear enzyme that plays an important role in DNA metabolism and chromosome organization. In the present study, we expressed human topo II alpha in mammalian cells by fusion to an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EG;FP). Decatenation assays indicated that the EGFP-topo II alpha is catalytically active in vitro. Assays for band depletion, growth inhibition, and cytotoxicity by topo II inhibitors suggested that the fusion protein is also functional in vivo. By following its subcellular localization throughout. the cell cycle in living cells, we found that the fusion protein is localized to the nucleus and nucleolus at interphase, and it is bound to chromosomal DNA at every stage of mitosis. Of importance, a mutant EGFP-topo II alpha, in which the active Tyr 805 is replaced by Phe (Y805F) and is catalytically inactive, still binds to chromosomal DNA throughout the cell cycle like the wild-type enzyme. Together, our results suggest that the ability of topo II alpha to bind to chromosomal DNA in the cell, a presumed requirement for its structural role, can be separated from its catalytic activity. (C) 1999 Academic Press.