Nucleosome packing in chromatin as revealed by nuclease digestion.

Chromatin DNA of rat thymus nuclei was cleaved by Serratia marcescens endonculease. The fragments have been examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions. The results obtained are interpreted to mean that the internucleosomal DNA is cleaved by the endonuclease into fragments which are multiples of 10 nucleotides. The 10 nucleotide periodicity in fragmentation of internucleosomal DNA is independent of the presence of histone H1 and is likely to be determined by the interaction of this DNA stretch with the histone core of nucleosomes. Such interaction implies a close association between the nucleosomes in the chromatin thread. Quasi-limit chromatin digest (50--55% of DNA hydrolysis) contains undegraded DNA fragments with length of up to 1000 nucleotides or more. A part of this resistant DNA consists of single-stranded fragments or contains single stranded regions. These data may be accounted for by a very compact nucleosome packing in the resistant chromatin in which one of the DNA stands is more accessible to the endonuclease action.