Conformation of ovalbumin and globin genes in chromatin during differential gene expression

Higher-Order Structural Determinants for Expression of the Ovalbumin Gene Family

The ovalbumin gene and the ovalbumin-related X and Y genes are expressed in the chicken oviduct in response to steroid hormones. These three genes are linked within a 100 kb domain of DNA which is preferentially sensitive to DNase I digestion in oviduct cell nuclei. No such preferential sensitivity to DNase is observed in nuclei isolated from other chicken tissues in which these genes are not transcribed. Thus, the DNase I sensitivity observed is correlated with the capacity for these genes to be expressed in oviduct. We have asked the question: are there specific signals in the DNA which are responsible for defining this domain or for conferring upon it the active, DNase I-sensitive, conformation? We have located DNA sequences belonging to a single repetitive DNA family, termed CR1, which are preferentially located in or near the boundary regions of the 100 kb domain. Therefore, these CR1 sequences are possible candidates for such a function. We have also searched for, but have not observed, any tissue-specific rearrangements of the DNA in the boundary regions of the domain. It is therefore unlikely that DNA rearrangements are involved in establishing the DNase I-sensitive domain in oviduct cells. However, we do note that a region at the far 3' end of the domain exhibits a cytidine methylation pattern which is highly variable among different chicken tissues. In particular, this region, which is approximately 30 kb downstream from the ovalbumin gene, is undermethylated in oviduct as compared to other hen tissues, and thus could be a control region involved in domain activation.

Cation-dependent solubilization of rat thymocyte chromatin is closely related to decondensation of the nuclei

The cation-dependent solubilization of rat thymocyte chromatin has been compared with decondensation of the nuclei as a function of sodium phosphate-mediated changes in the concentration of Mg2+ and Na+. After digestion of the nuclei with DNase I or Micrococcus nuclease for a time just sufficient to permit extraction of a maximal amount of chromatin (minimum digestion), solubilization of most of the chromatin was found to occur with the same cation dependency as decondensation of untreated nuclei, while further digestion changed the ionic requirements for solubilization. The cation-dependency of the chromatin solubility and of the nuclear decondensation also exhibited the same variations with temperature. The chromatin in the nuclei became up to 4-times more sensitive to DNase I by decondensation, which also induced a shift in the DNase I cleavage mode from a 200 bp to a 100 bp repeat pattern. In contrast, the sensitivity to Micrococcus nuclease appeared to be nearly unchanged. These results suggest that solubilization of chromatin prepared by a mild endonuclease treatment occurs as a direct consequence of structural changes in the chromatin which take place during decondensation of the nuclei.

Chromatin structure and gene expression in Alzheimer's disease

Light micrococcal nuclease digestion was used to examine DNA associated with nucleosome populations isolated from Alzheimer's disease (AD) affected superior temporal lobe neocortical nuclei. 46.1% of the immediate 5' upstream DNA sequence of the single copy neurofilament light chain (NF-L) gene was found to be associated with a mononucleosome fraction in control neocortices. This fraction was reduced to 7.4% in age-matched AD-affected neocortex. No differences in accessibility to the nuclease probe was found between AD-affected and control temporal grey matter nuclei for the human prion HuPrP gene or for the NF-L gene in nuclei isolated from the primary visual cortex or the cerebellum. An AvaI restriction endonuclease site, located 124 base pairs upstream from the TATAA box in the NF-L leader sequence, was also found to be occluded in AD-affected nuclei. From this and previous data we conclude that within the AD-affected nucleus, focused changes in neuronal chromatin conformation occur. Increases in the packing density of chromatin may reduce transcription and alter the ability of neurons to generate sufficient levels of gene products to maintain normal neocortical function.

Presence of histone H1 on an active Balbiani ring gene

We have investigated whether histone H1 is present on active Balbiani ring genes in the salivary glands of Chironomus tentans using immunoelectron microscopy. The genes were studied in two activity states: maximally activated genes with a fully extended template and repressed genes in a 30 nm fiber conformation. Histone H1 was recorded on the gene in both conformations; the immunosignal was considerably stronger in the transcriptionally active state, probably reflecting the increased accessibility of histone H1 to the antibody in unfolded versus compacted chromatin. We conclude that during transcription the DNA template is extended and the nucleosomes are disrupted at the RNA polymerases, but histone H1, and most likely also the core histones, remains bound to the template.

Affinity chromatographic purification of nucleosomes containing transcriptionally active DNA sequences

The unfolding of nucleosome cores in transcriptionally active chromatin uncovers the sulfhydryl groups of histone H3, making them accessible to SH-reagents. This has suggested that nucleosomes from active genes could be retained selectively on organomercurial/agarose columns. When nucleosomes released from rat liver nuclei by limited digestion with micrococcal nuclease were passed through an Hg affinity column, a run-off fraction of compact, beaded nucleosomes was separated from a retained nucleosome fraction. Although both contained monomer-length DNA and a full complement of core histones, histones in the retained fraction were hyperacetylated. Dot blot hybridizations showed the Hg-bound nucleosome fraction to be enriched in DNA sequences transcribed by hepatocytes (serum albumin and transferrin genes), while a brain-specific gene (preproenkephalin) was not retained, but appeared in the nucleosomes of the run-off fraction. The results are discussed in light of other evidence linking hyperacetylation of histones H3 and H4 to conformational changes at the middle of the nucleosome core.

Progesterone-modulation of estrogen action: rapid down regulation of nuclear acceptor sites for the estrogen receptor

Our previous studies demonstrated that progesterone down regulates the occupied form of nuclear estrogen receptor (Re). Using the density shift method, we discovered that progestins stimulate the turnover of nuclear Re within 3 h of treatment, and Re synthesis is suppressed subsequently. Thus, the primary site of progestin action in down-regulating Re is the stimulation of nuclear Re turnover followed by the inhibition of Re replenishment. A major breakthrough in our understanding of how progestin controls Re turnover was made by studying nuclear acceptor sites for Re that were found to decrease markedly within 2 h of progestin treatment. These and other results indicate that progestin induces a factor called the Re regulatory factor (ReRF) which acts to block nuclear Re acceptor sites, and this in turn decreases nuclear Re retention on chromatin acceptor sites, leading to an enhanced turnover (or processing) of nuclear Re.

Modulation of the sensitivity of chromatin to exogenous nucleases: implications for the apparent increased sensitivity of transcriptionally active genes

We have examined the effects of changing the ionic composition of the buffers in which nuclei are isolated on the sensitivity of chromatin to micrococcal nuclease and deoxyribonuclease I. Unless nuclei are isolated in buffers containing physiological levels of monovalent (150 mM KCl) and divalent (2-5 mM MgCl2) cations, there is a substantial loss of higher order structure. The ionic composition of the buffer in which the digestion is carried out also affects the amount of material digested both by modulating higher order structure and by determining the solubility of the released material. Magnesium ion concentrations greater than 2 mM and calcium ions at virtually any concentration precipitate substantial amounts of the released chromatin fragments. These observations can be interpreted in light of the known effects of the ions on 10- and 30-nm fiber structure and used as a basis for improvements in techniques for isolating chromatin and for studying its structure and function using exogenous nuclease probes. The apparent nuclease sensitivity of transcriptionally active chromatin was reexamined and shown to be more likely a reflection of differential solubility rather than an overall increase in nuclease sensitivity.

Correlations between prostate chromatin structure and transcriptional activity and acceptor site distribution

Androgen-receptor complexes are intimately involved in the maintenance of rat ventral prostate chromatin in a transcriptionally active structure. The presence or absence of androgens influenced the quantity of transcriptionally active chromatin and the distribution of acceptor sites for androgen-receptor complexes as probed by endonucleolytic cleavage. After castration, changes in the sedimentation rates of nucleosome oligomers were consistent with the absence of androgen-receptor complexes and elongating polyribonucleotide chains. These changes were accompanied by decreases in the ability of chromatin released under conditions of minimal nuclease digestion to bind androgen-receptor complexes and to support incorporation of RNA precursors responsive to androgenic stimulation. Saturation analyses of chromatin and nuclear fractions with partially purified androgen-receptor complexes revealed two affinity classes of acceptor sites. After castration, alterations in the intrachromatin distribution of acceptor sites were consistent with their redeployment into areas of decreased nuclease sensitivity, as previously shown for androgen-responsive genes.

Structure of transcriptionally active chromatin

Transcriptionally active or potentially active genes can be distinguished by several criteria from inactive sequences. Active genes show both an increased general sensitivity to endonucleases like DNase I or micrococcal nuclease and the presence of nuclease hypersensitive sites. Frequently, the nuclease hypersensitive sites are present just upstream of the transcription initiation site covering sequences that are crucial for the promoter function. Viral or cellular transcription enhancer elements are also associated with DNase I hypersensitive sites. At least for the SV40 enhancer, it was shown by electronmicroscopic studies that the DNase I hypersensitive DNA segment is excluded from nucleosomes. It is highly plausible that the binding of regulatory proteins to enhancer or promoter sequences is responsible for the exclusion of these DNA segments from nucleosomes and for the formation of nuclease hypersensitive sites. We speculate that the binding of such proteins may switch on a change in the conformation and/or the protein composition of a chromatin segment or domain containing one to several genes. Biochemical analysis of fractionated nucleosome particles or of active and inactive chromatin fractions have revealed differences in the composition as well as in the degree of modification of histones in these two subfractions of the chromosome. However, until present it is impossible to define unambiguously what are the crucial structural elements that distinguish between particles present on active and inactive chromatin.

Poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase and chick limb mesenchymal cell differentiation

Poly(ADP-ribose) is a variably sized homopolymer synthesized from NAD as a covalent adduct to chromosomal proteins; its synthesis is catalyzed by the enzyme poly(ADP-ribose)synthetase (pADPRS). Using an assay to estimate the pADPRS levels during various phases of both in vivo and in vitro limb mesenchymal cell development, we report that the level of pADPRS undergoes a substantial change as limb cells differentiate into muscle or cartilage. This change involves a threefold transient increase in the level of pADPRS per unit DNA which is coincident with the initiation of specific phenotypic expression. These fluctuations are observed for both chondrogenic and for myogenic events. Such a transient increase in pADPRS levels seems to be characteristic of differentiating cells but is not observed in cells which have already differentiated. These observations establish a correlation between pADPRS levels and chick limb mesenchymal cell differentiation both in vivo and in vitro and suggest that previous quantification of in situ ADP-ribosylation activity reflects alterations in pADPRS levels. Based on the information reported here and by others, a speculative hypothesis is put forth to explain the role of poly(ADP-ribose)synthetase in developmental events.

Physical-chemical properties of the estrogen receptor solubilized by micrococcal nuclease

The physical-chemical properties of the nuclear estrogen receptor from MCF-7 cells were determined. The receptor was solubilized by micrococcal nuclease. Nuclei were isolated from cells previously exposed to 10 nM [3H]estradiol. The amount of receptor released was parallel to the extent of chromatin solubilized, which suggested that the receptor is homogeneously distributed on the chromatin. Following mild nuclease digestion the excised receptor sedimented as an abundant 6-7 S form and as a less abundant approximately 12 S species. The 6-7 S form represented the receptor excised in association with linker DNA, while the approximately 12 S may represent receptor bound to linker DNA which remained associated with the nucleosome. Increasing the extensiveness of digestion resulted in one receptor form sedimenting at 5.6 S. Additional digestion with DNase I did not affect the sedimentation coefficient of the receptor. Sedimentation of the micrococcal nuclease hydrolysate in a 0.4 M KCl sucrose gradient resulted in a 4.2 S receptor form. The same receptor form was extracted from undigested nuclei with 0.4 M KCl. Using Sephadex G-200 column chromatography we have determined the Stokes radii (Rs), molecular weight (Mr) and frictional ratio (f/fo) for the 5.6 S and 4.2 S receptor forms. For the 5.6 S form: Rs = 7.04 nm, Mr = 163,000 and (f/fo) = 1.80. For the 4.2 S receptor, Rs = 4.45 nm, Mr = 77,000 and (f/fo) = 1.46. The ability of the nuclease solubilized 5.6 S receptor to bind DNA was tested using DNA-cellulose column and highly polymerized DNA. About 40% of the applied receptor bound to the column and could be eluted by high salt concentrated buffer. The 5.6 S receptor form was sedimented on sucrose gradient by the highly polymerized DNA. These results suggested that the receptor is bound in chromatin as a dimer or as a monomer in association with other protein(s) which complexed it with DNA.

Nuclear synthesis of egg white protein messenger ribonucleic acids in chick oviduct: effects of the anti-estrogen tamoxifen on estrogen-, progesterone-, and dexamethasone-induced synthesis

Tamoxifen is a potent anti-estrogen in the chicken oviduct [Sutherland, R., Mester, J., & Baulieu, E.E. (1977) Nature (London) 267, 434-435]. Its action on egg white protein gene transcription was studied in isolated nuclei under various hormonal conditions. Injected alone to estrogen-primed and then withdrawn chickens, tamoxifen was unable to trigger gene transcription. After its administration together with or 6 h after diethylstilbestrol (a synthetic estrogen), tamoxifen stopped or suppressed the estrogen-dependent increase of ovalbumin and conalbumin gene transcription. On the contrary, when tamoxifen was given with progesterone or with dexamethasone (a synthetic glucocorticosteroid), two steroids that also increased specific transcription of the ovalbumin and conalbumin genes, there was an amplification effect that lasted up to 24-30 h. These results demonstrate that tamoxifen is active at the transcriptional level when inhibiting estrogen action and when increasing progesterone and dexamethasone effects on protein synthesis [Catelli, M. G., Binart, N., Elkik, F., & Baulieu, E. E. (1980) Eur. J. Biochem. 107, 165-172; Le Bouc, Y. (1983) Thèse de 3ème cycle, Université Paris VII]. The complexity of hormone-anti-estrogen interactions on transcriptional efficiency was also illustrated by the greater amplifying effect of tamoxifen on conalbumin than on ovalbumin gene transcription and by the lack of potentiation by the anti-estrogen of dexamethasone-dependent ovomucoid gene transcription. The role of tamoxifen-estrogen receptor complexes in these responses is discussed in view of their differential amount in chromatin in the presence of estrogen or of progesterone.

Transcriptionally active chromatin

Eukaryotic chromatin has a dynamic, complex hierarchical structure. Active gene transcription takes place on only a small proportion of it at a time. While many workers have tried to characterize active chromatin, we are still far from understanding all the biochemical, morphological and compositional features that distinguish it from inactive nuclear material. Active genes are apparently packaged in an altered nucleosome structure and are associated with domains of chromatin that are less condensed or more open than inactive domains. Active genes are more sensitive to nuclease digestions and probably contain specific nonhistone proteins which may establish and/or maintain the active state. Variant or modified histones as well as altered configurations or modifications of the DNA itself may likewise be involved. Practically nothing is known about the mechanisms that control these nuclear characteristics. However, controlled accessibility to regions of chromatin and specific sequences of DNA may be one of the primary regulatory mechanisms by which higher cells establish potentially active chromatin domains. Another control mechanism may be compartmentalization of active chromatin to certain regions within the nucleus, perhaps to the nuclear matrix. Topological constraints and DNA supercoiling may influence the active regions of chromatin and be involved in eukaryotic genomic functions. Further, the chromatin structure of various DNA regulatory sequences, such as promoters, terminators and enhancers, appears to partially regulate transcriptional activity.

Histone-H1-dependent chromatin superstructures and the suppression of gene activity

I have identified a chromatin particle containing DNA as large as 20-40 kb that migrates as a discrete entity on agarose gels. With increasing nuclease digestion, the particle becomes cleaved in the linker regions between nucleosomes, but remains intact, probably held together by the outer histones, H1 and H5. By hybridization analysis, inactive genes are found in these particles. Active genes (and their flanking sequences) are also found in particles containing H1 and H5, but in contrast to inactive supranucleosome particles, active polynucleosome particles are not held together after cleavage of linker DNA. This suggests that H1 cross-links adjacent nucleosomes in inactive regions and that H1 is bound differently in expressed regions. The results raise the possibility that the marked degree of suppression of repressed, tissue-specific genes may be determined, in part, by their assembly into these inactive supranucleosome structures.

Binding of benzo[a]pyrene to different chromatin domains following activation at the nuclear membrane

When isolated liver nuclei from methylcholanthrene-treated rats are incubated with benzopyrene, covalent adducts are formed between DNA and the ultimate carcinogen, benzopyrene diol epoxide. Brief digestion with DNaseI, or micrococcal nuclease has been used to demonstrate that benzopyrene metabolites bind more readily to DNA in chromatin regions with a more open, active conformation than to inactive chromatin.

Chromatin structure in dementia

Nuclei extracted from neocortex of patients with Alzheimer's disease and treated with micrococcal nuclease release a population of dinucleosomes that contain an increase in the linker histones H1o and H1oo . Five other degenerative brain diseases that clinically resemble Alzheimer's disease do not result in these changes, although Pick's disease is associated with an increase in H1 on dinucleosomes. Histones from nuclei of patients with Alzheimer's disease are also more resistant to salt-induced release from chromatin than are those from age-matched control subjects. These results support the hypothesis that an alteration in chromatin structure is a marker for Alzheimer's disease.

Influence of histone hyperacetylation on nucleosomal particles as visualized by electron microscopy

Recently, Bode et al. [J. Bode, M. Gómez-Lira, and H. Schröter (1983) Eur. J. Biochem. 130, 437-445] have observed that monomeric nucleosomal particles from butyrate-treated Namalva lymphoma cells display a distinct heterogeneity in their mobilities on a nondenaturing 4% polyacrylamide gel. They have proposed that histone hyperacetylation induces a conformational change in monomers that can be modulated by the presence of HMG 14/17. The electron microscopic analyses presented here support these proposals.

Interaction of androgen receptors with chromatin and DNA

Controlled digestion of rat ventral prostate nuclei by careful adjustment of conditions of temperature, divalent cation concentration, ionic strength and micrococcal nuclease:DNA ratios yielded oligonucleosome fractions corresponding to less than 10% of the total genome which contain the majority of RNA polymerase B activity and androgen-receptor complexes of the nucleus. These parameters were affected acutely by androgen withdrawal and administration: furthermore, such manipulations affected the susceptibility to micrococcal nuclease release of prostate binding protein gene sequences. This transcriptionally-active androgen-influenced fraction was considered ideal for studies of interaction of chromatin components with androgen receptor protein. Androgen receptor was purified approximately 20 000-fold from rat prostate cytosol. The purified protein retained its ability to stimulate RNA polymerase B activity in prostate nuclei and chromatin fractions, and its properties of binding to chromatin and to DNA. However, although purified receptor protein showed tissue-specific binding to prostate chromatin and enhanced binding to fractions released by low nuclease digestion, no such specificity was indicated by binding to total DNA, DNA from specific fractions or cloned prostatic binding protein cDNA.

A set of non-histone proteins isolated from the nuclei of various rat tissues

A set of non-histone proteins has been identified in the nuclei from liver, brain, spleen and testis tissues of the rat. Following moderate digestion of thoroughly washed nuclei with DNase I or micrococcal nuclease, EDTA was added to 5 mM to the reaction mixture and the preparation centrifuged. We found that the supernatant contained a limited amount of non-histone proteins (fraction S1). Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis revealed S1 to be composed of a remarkably simple set of proteins resolved into four groups (A-D) each possessing closely spaced doublets or a triplet. Their molecular weights were A, 76 100-80 000; B, 48 200-49 500; C, 44 500-45 200 and D, 39 500-41 500. The yield suggested that these proteins were structural constituents; however, they did not coincide with the known structural proteins of the cell nucleus. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis further resolved each of the SDS bands into as many as nine spots, according to various charges. Some were labelled with [32P]orthophosphate in vivo, or with [gamma-32P]ATP and purified nuclear protein kinase NII in vitro. The released proteins B-D had fairly constant relative molar ratios at various times of digestion, thereby indicating possible localizations at similar sites in the nucleus. The kinetic data together with the aggregation property at neutral pH values and the solubility in 5 mM EDTA suggest that proteins B-D constitute a group of proteins that have several common characteristics.

Nuclease digestibility of chromatin is affected by nuclei isolation procedures

Experiments using nucleases as probes of chromatin structure take place in two stages: (1) nuclei isolation, and (2) nuclease digestion. The parameters of the nuclease digestion stage are usually strictly controlled because of nuclease sensitivity to them. However, there have been no reports on whether parameters in the nuclei isolation stage affect the subsequent nuclease digestions. We have evaluated a typical nuclei isolation technique with respect to how changes in the isolation parameters affect nuclease digestion kinetics. Our observations point out that various parameters encountered in the nuclei isolation stage have a significant effect on the subsequent nuclease digestion kinetics of DNAase I. These parameters include the concentration of cells, divalent cations and phosphatase inhibitors. The pH, concentration of NaCl and concentration of detergent had little effect. Micrococcal nuclease was relatively unaffected by changes in the nuclei isolation parameters. The importance of this report lies in the demonstration that lack of control of seemingly insignificant parameters, such as cell concentration during the nuclei isolation stage, leads to subsequent irreproducible results in the DNAase I digestion. These findings indicate that great care must be exercised in the nuclei isolation stage if reproducible work is to be performed with DNAase I.

Decreased micrococcal nuclease sensitivity of nuclei from nerve growth factor-treated PC12 cells

Nuclei from nerve growth factor-treated PC12 cells are more resistant to digestion with micrococcal nuclease than are nuclei from control cells. The production of oligosomal fragments is decreased, as is the generation of Mg2+-soluble products. One interpretation of the data is that differentiation of these cells due to treatment with nerve growth factor involves a decrease in the total number of DNA sequences transcribed.

Molecular mechanism of extinction of liver-specific functions in mouse hepatoma x rat fibroblast hybrids: extinction of the albumin gene

Hybrids formed by the fusion of mouse hepatoma (BWTG3) and rat fibroblast (JF1) cells exhibit the extinction of mouse albumin and alpha-fetoprotein synthesis. Karyotype analyses suggest that all parental chromosomes are present in the hybrids. The extinction, therefore, of mouse hepatocyte genes is attributed to the inhibitory action of the rat genome. In these studies, we show that these hybrids possess and express the mouse beta-glucuronidase gene (which is encoded on the same chromosome as the mouse albumin and alpha-fetoprotein gene), and we present data of Southern blot analysis which demonstrate that such hybrids have indeed retained both mouse and rat albumin DNA sequences. In addition, using mouse albumin cDNA, we have shown by cDNA-RNA reassociation kinetics that albumin mRNA is virtually absent in these hybrids. We conclude from these studies that the extinction of albumin synthesis involves a mechanism which results in the loss of cytoplasmic albumin mRNA.

The intranuclear distribution of rat uterine estrogen receptors determined after nuclease treatment and chromatin fractionation

The intranuclear locations at which rat uterine estrogen receptors interact with chromatin have been probed using digestions performed with DNAase I and micrococcal nuclease. Exposure to nuclease has been controlled to effect limited to extensive digestion of nuclear DNA under conditions which maintain the integrity of the [3H] estradiol-receptor complex. The effect of divalent cation concentration on the release of estrogen receptors fron nuclease-treated chromatin was examined and found to be of consequence above 2 mM. Exposure to nuclease released nuclear estrogen receptors from chromatin, with DNAase I being more efficient than micrococcal nuclease in mediating this release. The release of the bulk of nuclear estrogen receptors closely paralleled the nuclease-mediated digestion of chromatin DNA. At 1 h after exposure to estrogen, substantial quantities of uterine estrogen receptors (80-90%) were distributed in chromatin fractions which, on the basis of fractionation terminology, have been termed 'transcriptionally inactive' by convention. Enrichment of estrogen receptors in chromatin which has been termed ' transcriptionally active' only occurred with 10-20% of the estrogen receptors. Hence, our findings support a model where, at early times after estrogen exposure, receptors from the rat uterus are enriched to only a minor extent in chromatin to which 'transcriptional activity' is generally assigned while the bulk of receptors are localized in chromatin which is generally considered 'transcriptionally inactive'.

Photoaffinity labeling of chromatin. Synthesis and properties of arylazido derivatives of 9-aminoacridine: potential photolabels for chromatin studies

The syntheses and properties of potential photoaffinity labels for the proteins in chromatin studies are described. One compound, N,N'-bis-(9-acridinyl)-4-aza-4-(4-azidobenzoyl)-1,7-diaminoheptane dihydrochloride, has been studied more closely. This photolabel shows high affinity towards DNA (Ka approximately 3 x 10(5) M-1) and photoreacts with histones at wavelengths in the range 260-450 nm. The photoreaction was monitored fluorimetrically, and labeling of histones H1, H2A/H2B and H3 was observed. When chromatin was photolabeled, labeling of H1 was exclusively quenched by NaCl at concentrations which are known to cause dissociation of this histone from the DNA. It is inferred that only DNA-associated proteins are photolabeled by the reagent.

Responses to androgens of rat ventral prostate nuclear androgen-binding sites sensitive and resistant to micrococcal nuclease

Rat ventral prostate nuclei were separated into three major fractions by mild digestion with micrococcal nuclease and two fractions by extensive digestion. All fractions contained androgen-binding sites. Almost 50% of nuclear binding sites were resistant to enzymic digestion when only 5-15% of total DNA was resistant. Under milder digestion conditions, 21% of nuclear binding sites were associated with an intermediate fraction, representing 16% of total nuclear DNA, which was enriched in specific androgen-regulated gene sequences. This fraction was rapidly degraded by more extensive digestion. The nuclease sensitivity of these particular genes was markedly influenced by castration and the administration of dihydrotestosterone to castrated animals. The nuclear content of both nuclease-resistant and -sensitive androgen-binding sites was decreased by castration. Whereas the administration of androgen to animals castrated 1 day previously preferentially replenished nuclease-resistant sites, nuclease-sensitive sites, including those associated with transcriptionally active regions, had apparent priority when androgen was supplied to animals castrated 7 days previously. The significance of these observations to the regulation of nuclear processes and the possible interrelationships of nuclease-sensitive and -insensitive sites are discussed.

Alterations in chromatin structure during DNA excision repair

Work from a number of laboratories recently has demonstrated that alterations in chromatin structure occur during excision repair in mammalian cells. It is now clear that when cells are damaged with a wide variety of chemical agents or ultraviolet radiation, almost all of the repair synthesis is initially sensitive to staphylococcal nuclease. With time, there is a redistribution of the counts incorporated during excision repair synthesis so that many of them become nuclease resistant and associated with nucleosome core length DNA. In our laboratory, we have demonstrated this phenomenon in human cells damaged with N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene, 7-bromomethylbenz[a]anthracene, and ultraviolet radiation. It is clear from the work of others that the phenomenon is not unique to human cells since African green monkey cells damaged with either ultraviolet radiation or angelicin also show an initial nuclease sensitivity of repair-incorporated nucleotides follow by rearrangement. Two models to explain these observations have been proposed; one suggests that there is an unfolding of nucleosomes during excision repair followed by a refolding, while the other suggests that sliding of core proteins with respect to DNA occurs during excision repair. These models, as well as recent data bearing on them, will be discussed.

Different chromatin structures in Physarum polycephalum: a special form of transcriptionally active chromatin devoid of nucleosomal particles

Nonnucleolar chromatin from interphase nuclei of Physarum polycephalum plasmodia occurs in two different structural configurations as seen in electron microscopic spread preparations. While the majority of the chromatin is devoid of nascent ribonucleoprotein (RNP) fibrils and compacted into nucleosomal particles, a minor proportion (10-20%) is organized differently and reveals a smooth contour. It is this form of smooth chromatin which is rich in transcription units (mean length: 1.36 +/- 0.21 micrometer). Only occasionally are solitary nascent RNP fibrils observed which are associated with beaded strands of chromatin. In transcribed smooth chromatin nucleosomal particles are not only absent from the transcription units but also from their nontranscribed flanking regions, indicating that this special structural aspect is not merely a direct consequence of the transcriptional process. The existence of ca. 10-20% of Physarum chromatin in the smoothly contoured form is discussed in relation to reports of a preferential digestibility of a similar proportion of Physarum chromatin by DNAse I (Jalouzot et al., 1980) and to the altered configuration of "peak A" chromatin subunits after micrococcal nuclease digestion (Johnson et al., 1978 a, b).