Histone H1, polylysine and spermine--factors of nucleosome assembly in vitro

We studied nucleosome assemble in vitro in a system containing the relaxed DNA CoIE1, core histones and a crude extract Drosophila embryos. Supercoiling is a criterium for making conclusions about forming nucleosomes. Supercoiling raises more if nucleosome assemble takes place in the presence of histone H1, polylysine of the 20 000 molecular weight or spermine. These agents do not stimulate the relaxation, and they are more effective when they are added earlier. Thus histone H1, spermine and polylysine can facilitate nucleosome assemble in vitro and with two former agents it may be possibly that the same process takes place in vivo.