Role of chromatin in estrogen action in the uterus. II. Hormone-induced synthesis of nonhistone acidic proteins which restore histone-inhibited DNA-dependent RNA synthesis.

Nonhistone acidic proteins were isolated, by equilibrium density centrifugation in 4 M cesium chloride, from the chromatin isolated and purified from the uterus of the ovariectomized rat or from calf endometrium. Evidence is presented to show (1) that arginine-rich histones are more effective inhibitors of chromatin-directed RNA synthesis in vitor than lysine-rich histones, (2) that the nonhistone acidic proteins of chromatin do not inhibit the synthesis of RNA directed by chromatin in vitro, (3) that added nonhistone acidic chromatin proteins effect a restoration of histone-inhibited RNA synthesis directed by chromatin in vitro, and (4) that the synthesis of nonhistone acidic chromatin proteins is under estrogen control in the uterus, but not in the liver. It is concluded that a major feature of the early action of estrogen in the uterus of the ovariectomized rat is the stimulation of synthesis and the accumulation in the interphase chromosomes of nonhistone acidic proteins which counter the inhibitory effect of histone on transcription by RNA polymerase. Presumably this would permit more and perhaps a new synthesis of RNA programmed for transport to the cytoplasm.