Thermal depolarization of fluorescence from polytene chromosomes stained with acridine orange

The structure of the chromatin core particle in solution

The shape and size of the nucleosomal core particle from chromatin has been examined by analysis of neutron and X-ray scattering data from dilute solutions. Calculations of scattering for many different models have been made and only one model was able to account for both the X-ray and neutron profiles. This model is an oblate structure with height about 50A and diameter 110A. The DNA is mainly confined to two annuli located at the top and bottom respectively of the core particle positioned on the outside of a compact protein core which has a height of about 40A and diameter about 73A.

The orientation of DNA within 80-Angstrom chromatin fibers

Squashing salivary glands of Chironomus thummi larvae, Amblystoma tigrinum erythrocytes, or Spirostromum frequently results in stretched chromatin having highly oriented DNA as determined by polarized fluorescence microscopy of acridine orange-stained preparations. The examination of such material from C. thummi in the electron microscope indicates that the individual chromatin fibers have an average thickness of 80 A as is usually found in embedded and sectioned material. It is thus concluded that the DNA lies nearly parallel to the axis of these chromatin fibers. Detailed calculations of the polarization expected from various models of DNA packing are contained in an appendix.

DNA organization in the mature sperm of several orthoptera by the method of polarized fluorescence microscopy

Mature sperm of Acheta domesticus, Acheta assimilis, Nemobius fasciatus, Nemobius confusus, Melanoplus femur-rubrum, Romalea microptera, Scudderia curvicauda, and Ceuthophilus nigricans were examined for DNA configuration by means of polarized fluorescence microscopy. In all cases, the results suggest that the DNA lies in unsupercoiled array, predominantly parallel to the elongate sperm head axes. Detailed calculations of the factors influencing the degree of polarization of the fluorescent emission from supercoiled DNA are contained in an appendix.