Binding of E. coli RNA polymerase to chromatin subunits.

Chromatin subunits were prepared from purified rat liver nuclei and the template properties of the nucleosome preparation studied. It was found that: 1) The fundamental template restriction of chromatin (as compared to deproteinized DNA) is retained in the isolated nucleosomes, 2) On the average one molecule of RNA polymerase is bound to one molecule of DNA purified from nucleosomes, 3) The number of RNA polymerase binding sites on chromatin subunits is 6 to 20 times lower than that of the DNA extracted from these subunits, 4) Transcription can proceed through nucleosomes resulting in RNA chains approximately 150 nucleotides long.