The DNA intercalator, ethidium bromide, alters the pattern of DNAse I hypersensitive sites of the beta A-globin gene in chicken erythrocytes.
We have analysed the effects of a DNA intercalator, ethidium bromide (EB), on chromatin structure in nuclei from both chicken mature erythrocytes (RBC) and reticulocytes (Ret). A differential release of nuclear proteins was obtained from both types of nuclei exposed to EB. Among these proteins, a species of 45 kDa is the major component. Furthermore, in the 10 mM EB-treated nuclei, the pattern of DNAse I hypersensitive sites (DHS) around the chicken beta A-globin gene were significantly altered, i.e., the original set was replaced by a new set of DHS. We have discussed the implications of our observations, in the light of current concepts of functional aspects of the conformational heterogeneity of DNA in both protein-DNA interactions and chromatin structure, as well as the effects of DNA intercalators on DNA conformation.
Zhu
J D
JD
Shanghai Institute of Cell Biology, Academia Sinica, China.
Sun
X P
XP
Wang
F
F
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002645:Chickens; D002843:Chromatin / Q000187:drug effects; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000235:genetics*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004996:Ethidium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D007364:Intercalating Agents; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000378:metabolism
D002843:Chromatin; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007364:Intercalating Agents; D005914:Globins; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D004996:Ethidium