Chromatin-like organization of the adenovirus chromosome.

Staphylococcal nuclease (nucleate 3'-oligonucleotidohydrolase; EC 3.1.4.7) cleaved DNA within disrupted adenovirus particles into a regular series of fragments with a repeat unit of 200 base pairs. Since this pattern did not eppear when DNA alone was digested, we postulate that the orderly arrangement of core polypeptides protects discrete regions of DNA from nuclease attack. The 23 X 10(6) dalton adenovirus DNA molecule can accommodate 180 units of roughly 200 base pairs. Based on the stoichiometry of core polypeptides, we calculate that each repeat unit contains six copies of polypeptide VII and a single copy of polypeptide V. This model is bases on proposals for the structure of eukaryotic chromatin. Very brief nuclease digestion generated 1800 base pair fragments (1/20 of the adenovirus chromosome). This result is discussed in terms of a higher order folding of viral DNA within the virus particle.