Nuclease digestion of DNA and RNA in nuclei from young adult and senescent Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematoda).
Nuclei prepared from young adult and senescent Caenorhabditis elegans (Nematoda) were subjected to digestion by micrococcal nuclease and DNaseI. The kinetics of digestion of nuclei by micrococcal nuclease showed no change with age. There was, however, an age-related increase of acid-soluble deoxyribonucleotides released by DNaseI, suggesting that subtle alterations of chromatin conformation occur in aged nematodes. The ratio of nuclear RNA to DNA decreased and the nuclear RNA became more susceptible to enzymatic degradation as the worms grew old. These findings appear to indicate that nuclear RNA is less protected by protein in old nematodes. The decline of the nuclear RNA/DNA ratio with age is in good agreement with the generally accepted idea that there is a reduced level of RNA and protein synthesis in old animals.
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Meheus
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JR
Vanfleteren
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002107:Caenorhabditis / Q000254:growth & development*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000032:analysis*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D007700:Kinetics; D008836:Micrococcal Nuclease / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis*
D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D008836:Micrococcal Nuclease