Localization of curved DNA and its association with nucleosome phasing in the promoter region of the human estrogen receptor alpha gene. (1/963)

We determined DNA bend sites in the promoter region of the human estrogen receptor (ER) gene by the circular permutation assay. A total of five sites (ERB-4 to -1, and ERB+1) mapped in the 3 kb region showed an average distance of 688 bp. Most of the sites were accompanied by short poly(dA) x poly(dT) tracts including the potential bend core sequence A2N8A2N8A2 (A/A/A). Fine mapping of the ERB-2 site indicated that this A/A/A and the 20 bp immediate flanking sequence containing one half of the estrogen response element were the sites of DNA curvature. All of the experimentally mapped bend sites corresponded to the positions of DNA curvature as well as to nucleosomes predicted by computer analysis. In vitro nucleosome mapping at ERB-2 revealed that the bend center was located 10-30 bp from the experimental and predicted nucleosome dyad axes.  (+info)

Chromatin nu bodies: isolation, subfractionation and physical characterization. (2/963)

Monomer chromatin subunit particles (nu1) have been isolated in gram quantities by large-scale zonal centrifugation of micrococcal nuclease digests of chicken erythrocyte nuclei. nu1 can be stored, apparently indefinitely, frozen in 0.2 mM EDTA (pH 7.0) at less than or equal to 25 degrees C. Aliquots of the stored monomers have been subfractionated by dialysis against 0.1 M KCl buffers into a soluble fraction containing equimolar amounts of H4, H3, H2A, H2B associated with a DNA fragment of approximately 130-140 nucleotide pairs, and a precipitated fraction containing all of the histones including H5 and H1 associated with DNA fragments. The total nu1 and the KCl-soluble fraction of nu1 have been examined by sedimentation, diffusion, sedimentation equilibrium ultracentrifugation, low-angle X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy. Physical parameters from all of these techniques are presented and correlated in this study.  (+info)

Chromatin structure: a property of the higher structures of chromatin and in the time course of its formation during chromatin replication. (3/963)

The action of a number of enzymes and metals on one nuclear preparation were interpreted in terms of the existence of a fragile but highly DNAase-I resistant feature of chromatin superstructure. The generation of this DNAase-I resistance feature of chromatin was then followed during normal DNA synthesis in the regenerating rat liver by following the disappearance of a transitory DNAase-I susceptible state. This transitory, DNAase-I susceptible state appears to be extremely similar to the post-synthetic, DNAase-I susceptible state that has been described in He La32.  (+info)

On the initiation of mammalian RNA polymerase at single-strand breaks in DNA. (4/963)

Mammalian RNA polymerase B is able to initiate at single-strand breaks in the DNA template. A 3'-OH end at a nick is required for initiation whereas the 5'-end may be either -- OH or phosphate. The 3'-OH group does not function as a primer. An appreciable part of the newly synthesized RNA started at a nick remains associated with the DNA in hydrid form. Initiation of exogeneous RNA polymerase B on chromatin exhibits similar requirements.  (+info)

Biochemical and electron-microscopic evidence that the subunit structure of Chinese-hamster-ovary interphase chromatin is conserved in mitotic chromosomes. (5/963)

Biochemical and electron microscopic studies demonstrate that the subunit structure of Chinese hamster ovary cell interphase chromatin is conserved in mititic chromosomes. Digestion of purified chromosomes or nuclei with micrococcal nuclease produces DNA in discrete size classes, as visualized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which are common to the two materials. Early in digestion the DNA fragments are integral multiples of a monomer approximately 177 base pairs in length, whereas after extensive digestion the remaining DNA fragments migrate ahead of the monomer position. The size of the repeating DNA unit was confirmed as being smaller than that produced by micrococcal nuclease digestion of rat liver nuclei by direct comparison. Electron microscopy of partially unravelled chromosomes at low ionic strength shows tightly packed spheres (nucleosomes) approximately 12 nm in diameter which are often arranged as linear chains. Chromosomal material prepared for electron microscopy after varying extents of micrococcal nuclease digestion is composed of fragments containing pregressively fewer nucleosomes, which parallels the loss of high DNA multimer bands in gel electrophoresis. Material unravelled from chromosomes in the presence of NaCl consists of nucleosomes packed packed in a different configuration which suggests the origin of higher order structures in chromosomes.  (+info)

Reduction of cell lysate viscosity during processing of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) by chromosomal integration of the staphylococcal nuclease gene in Pseudomonas putida. (6/963)

Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) are biodegradable thermoplastics which are accumulated by many bacterial species in the form of intracellular granules and which are thought to serve as reserves of carbon and energy. Pseudomonas putida accumulates a polyester, composed of medium-side-chain 3-hydroxyalkanoic acids, which has excellent film-forming properties. Industrial processing of PHA involves purification of the PHA granules from high-cell-density cultures. After the fermentation process, cells are lysed by homogenization and PHA granules are purified by chemical treatment and repeated washings to yield a PHA latex. Unfortunately, the liberation of chromosomal DNA during lysis causes a dramatic increase in viscosity, which is problematic in the subsequent purification steps. Reduction of the viscosity is generally achieved by the supplementation of commercially available nuclease preparations or by heat treatment; however, both procedures add substantial costs to the process. As a solution to this problem, a nuclease-encoding gene from Staphylococcus aureus was integrated into the genomes of several PHA producers. Staphylococcal nuclease is readily expressed in PHA-producing Pseudomonas strains and is directed to the periplasm, and occasionally to the culture medium, without affecting PHA production or strain stability. During downstream processing, the viscosity of the lysate from a nuclease-integrated Pseudomonas strain was reduced to a level similar to that observed for the wild-type strain after treatment with commercial nuclease. The nuclease gene was also functionally integrated into the chromosomes of other PHA producers, including Ralstonia eutropha.  (+info)

A potent polyamine analog, spermindiol. (7/963)

The effects of spermine, putrescine, and spermindiol on different nucleases were investigated. A highly active spermine analog, spermindiol, was synthesized, which markedly enhanced DNA hydrolysis by staphylococcal nuclease and spleen DNase II [EC 3.1.4.6] and RNA degradation by staphylococcal nuclease and pancreatic RNase A [EC 3.1.4.22]. Spermindiol also increased the melting temperature of calf thymus DNA.  (+info)

Association of partially-folded intermediates of staphylococcal nuclease induces structure and stability. (8/963)

Staphylococcal nuclease forms three different partially-folded intermediates at low pH in the presence of low to moderate concentration of anions, differing in the amount of secondary structure, globularity, stability, and compactness. Although these intermediates are monomeric at low protein concentration (< or =0.25 mg/mL), increasing concentrations of protein result in the formation of dimers and soluble oligomers, ultimately leading to larger insoluble aggregates. Unexpectedly, increasing protein concentration not only led to association, but also to increased structure of the intermediates. The secondary structure, stability, and globularity of the two less-ordered partially-folded intermediates (A1 and A2) were substantially increased upon association, suggesting that aggregation induces structure. An excellent correlation was found between degree of association and amount of structure measured by different techniques, including circular dichroism, fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and small-angle X-ray scattering. The associated states were also substantially more stable toward urea denaturation than the monomeric forms. A mechanism is proposed, in which the observed association of monomeric intermediates involves intermolecular interactions which correspond to those found intramolecularly in normal folding to the native state.  (+info)