Summary
The macronuclear chromatin of Oxytrichia nova consists of chromatin fragments which are fully soluble in 0.2 mM EDTA and whose DNA length varies from 500–25 000 bp. The DNA migrates electrophoretically as a series of discrete bands, with specific genes present in only one or a few bands. The chromatin fragments are composed of nucleosomes and migrate electrophoretically in proportion to their DNA length. These results suggest schemes for the fractionation of undigested chromatin in order to enrich for specific genes, facilitating analysis of changes in chromatin structure associated with changes in gene expression.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cartwright JL, Abmayr SM, Fleischmann G, Lowenhaupt K, Elgin S, Keene CR, Michael A, Howard GC: Chromatin structure and gene activity: the role of nonhistone chromosomal proteins. CRC Critical Reviews in Biochemistry 13:1–86, 1982.
Lipps HJ, Nock A, Riewe M, Steinbruck G: Chromatin structure in the macronucleus of the ciliate Stylonichia mytilus. Nucl Acids Res 5:4699–4709, 1978.
Lawn RM, Heumann JM, Herrick G, Prescott DM: The gene-size DNA molecules in Oxytricha. Cold Spring Harbor Symp Quant Biol 42:483–492, 1976.
Laughlin TJ, Henry JM, Phares EF, Long MV, Olins DE: Methods for the large-scale cultivation of an Oxytricha (ciliophora: hypotrichida). J Protozool 30:63–64, 1983.
Butler AP, Laughlin TJ, Henry JM, Olins DE: Physical structure of gene-sized chromatin from the protozoan Oxytricha. Nucl Acids Res 12:3201–3217, 1984.
Levinger L, Barsoum J, Varshavsky A: Two dimensional hybridization mapping of nucleosomes — comparisons of DNA and protein patterns. J Mol Biol 146:287–304, 1981.
Lipps HJ, Morris NR: Chromatin structure in the nuclei of the ciliate Stylonichia mytilus. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 74:230–234, 1977.
Kaine BP, Spear BB: Nucleotide sequence of a macronuclear gene for actin in Oxytricha fallax. Nature 295:430–432, 1982.
Rae PMM, Spear BB: Macronuclear DNA of the hypotrichous ciliate Oxytricha fallax. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 75:4992–4996, 1978.
Swanton MT, Heumann JM, Prescott DM: Gene-size DNA molecules of the macronuclei in three species hypotrichs: size distribution and absence of nicks. Chromosoma 77:217–227, 1980.
Swanton MJ, McCarroll BM, Spear BB: The organization of macronuclear rDNA molecules of four hypotrichous ciliated protozoans. Chromosoma 85:1–9, 1982.
Lipps HJ, Steinbruck G: Free genes for rRNAs in the macronuclear genome of the ciliate Stylonichia mytilus. Chromosome 69:21–26, 1978.
Steinbruck G, Haas I, Hellmer KH, Ammermann D: Characterization of macronuclear DNA in five species of ciliates. Chromosoma 83:199–208, 1981.
Southern EM: Detection of specific sequences among DNA fragments separated by gel electrophoresis. J Mol Biol 98:503–517, 1975.
Weintraub H, Groundine M: Chromosomal subunits in active genes have an altered conformation. Science 193:848–856, 1976.
Wu C, Binsham PM, Livak KJ, Holmaren R, Elgin LCR: The chromatin structure of specific genes: 1. Evidence for higher order domains of defined DNA sequences. Cell 16:797–806, 1979.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Laughlin, T.J., Herrmann, A.L. & Olins, D.E. Fractionation of the gene-size macronuclear chromatin fragments of the binucleated eukaryote Oxytricha . Mol Cell Biochem 62, 157–163 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223306
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223306