title: Increased nuclease sensitivity of the human interferon-alpha 1-related genes and the interferon-beta 1 gene during induction by virus.
abstract: The chromatin structure of the human interferon (IFN) genes was evaluated during induction of human lymphoblastoid (Namalwa) cells by Sendai virus. Namalwa cells were treated with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) for 36-48 h and induced with Sendai virus for 7 h; the nuclear fraction was isolated and treated with low levels of either micrococcal nuclease or DNAse I. DNA was extracted from the nuclease-treated chromatin, restricted with Eco RI and analyzed by Southern blotting using IFN-alpha 1 and -beta 1 cDNA probes. An increase in the digestibility of the IFN-alpha 1-related genes and the IFN-beta 1 gene was observed in chromatin prepared from BrdUrd-treated, Sendai virus-induced Namalwa cells as compared with chromatin from uninduced Namalwa cells. Our results indicate that, during IFN induction in Namalwa cells by Sendai virus, the IFN genes assume a more open conformation consistent with increased transcriptional activity across these genes.
mesh_terms: D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002843:Chromatin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I / Q000494:pharmacology; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005796:Genes / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008836:Micrococcal Nuclease / Q000494:pharmacology; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010222:Parainfluenza Virus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D007370:Interferon Type I; D004247:DNA; D004720:Endonucleases; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I; D008836:Micrococcal Nuclease; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine