title: In situ studies on the effect of acid extraction on the DNA template activity of mature avian erythrocytes.
abstract: Exogenous E. coli RNA polymerase was used to determine the in situ DNA template activity of ethanol/acetone fixed avian erythrocytes. No RNA polymerase-catalyzed incorporation of 3H-UTP was detected in mature avian erythrocytes while simultaneously fixed avian lymphocytes did exhibit incorporation of 3H-UTP. Nuclei of mature erythrocytes which were subjected to treatments known to remove histones showed dramatic increases in RNA polymerase-catalyzed incorporation of 3H-UTP. The chromatin of treated cells was presumed to be more accessible to RNA polymerase as determined by the increase in RNA polymerase-catalyzed incorporation of 3H-UTP. Incubation of acid-treated nuclei in poly-L-lysine prior to incubation with RNA polymerase failed to inhibit the incorporation of 3H-UTP. Possible mechanisms for the inactivation of avian erythrocyte nuclei are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008239:Lysine; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D012260:Ribonucleases; D013698:Templates, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D004247:DNA; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D012260:Ribonucleases; D008239:Lysine