Transcriptionally active chromatin can be selectively released by DNase I from Physarum polycephalum genome.
In a simple eukaryote Physarum polycephalum about 13% of the genome is transcribed into abundant cytoplasmic RNA as shown by S1 nuclease digestion of DNA-RNA hybrids. Mild digestion of isolated Physarum nuclei with DNase I liberates a fraction of chromatin 3.5-fold enriched in sequences hybridizing by Physarum poly(A)+ RNA. This fraction is similarly enriched in histone H4 and actin genes known to be actively transcribed in Physarum. High content (about 45%) of actively transcribed sequences in DNase-I-released fraction of Physarum chromatin makes it particularly well suited for studying the structural basis of transcriptional activation in eukaryotes.
Fronk
J
J
Institute of Biochemistry, Warsaw University, Poland.
Jerzmanowski
A
A
Wiśniewski
J
J
Czupryn
M
M
Toczko
K
K
Wilhelm
M L
ML
Wilhelm
F X
FX
D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics*; D003593:Cytoplasm; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I / Q000378:metabolism*; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D010804:Physarum / Q000235:genetics*; D012313:RNA; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D000199:Actins; D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012313:RNA; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I