Abstract
Gene expression is greatly dependent on whether the chromatin is in an open or closed state. ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes, such as the nucleosome remodeling factor (NURF), are important to reorganize chromatin to either activate or repress a gene. To examine the functional role of NURF subunits more closely, dsRNAi experiments in Drosophila cells were performed. An analysis was conducted on the effects of a metal-dependent transcriptional gene (MtnA), when major subunits of NURF were knocked down under copper stress. qPCR analysis revealed that in the presence of copper, there was a greater impact when the NURF301 subunit was knocked down compared to the ISWI subunit. This result suggests that NURF301 may have a distinctive role separate from chromatin remodeling under copper stress, unlike ISWI.