Increased nuclease sensitivity of the human interferon-alpha 1-related genes and the interferon-beta 1 gene during induction by virus.
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.
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
D002843:Chromatin; D007370:Interferon Type I; D004247:DNA; D004720:Endonucleases; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I; D008836:Micrococcal Nuclease; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine