Association of proteinases with histones from rat thymus nuclei]

Histone H2A, H2B, and H1--specific proteinases tightly associated with histones were shown to be present in rat thymus nuclei. The activity of proteinases tightly associated with histones increases after exposure of animals to gamma-rays. The denatured DNA activated the histone H1-specific proteinase. These proteinase dissociated from histones in the presence of dithiothreitol. The histones and proteinases were divided into fractions by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose in the presence of 5 mM dithiothreitol.     

Synthesis of lipids in the thymus of irradiated rats

Changes in the synthesis of total lipids from 14C-glucose and 3H2O and in triacylglycerol concentration in the thymus of rats X-irradiated with a single dose of 14.35 or 6.0 Gy were investigated. Both lipid synthesis and TAG concentration were found to increase in the irradiated rat thymus.     

Metabolic properties of histones from rat liver and thymus gland

1. The incorporation of ¹⁴C-labelled amino acids into acid-extractable proteins from rat-liver and -thymus nuclei confirmed the existence of a protein component with a higher uptake than that into the major histone components. 2. This rapidly labelled component appeared to contain the thiol groups detectable in the acid extracts. 3. Histone f1 contained 1mol. of serine phosphate/mol. of mol.wt. of 42000–43000. 4. Phosphate was present in other components of the 50mm-hydrochloric acid extract from liver and thymus nuclei, and was probably associated with the thiol-containing component. 5. The difference in amino acid uptake into the histones of diffuse and dense chromatin was confirmed. Dense chromatin was found to have a higher proportion of disulphide than did diffuse chromatin.     

Metabolism of histones and non-histone proteins in liver cell nuclei and chromatin from rats of various ages

The metabolism of various classes of histones and nonhistone proteins in intact nuclei and in liver chromatin of albino Wistar rats aged 1, 3, 12 and 24 months, was studied. It was shown that in the course of postnatal development the metabolism of nonhistone proteins extracted with 0.14 M NaCl in murine liver is increased. Later in ontogenesis, the incorporation of labeled precursors into proteins HMG 14 and HMG 17 decreases; the specific radioactivity of proteins HMG 1 + 2 is higher in 3- and 24-month-old animals. The intensity of metabolism of nonhistone proteins and histones is higher within the composition of the chromatin complex than in the intact nucleus at all stages of postnatal development. Among other histone proteins, histones H1 are characterized by the highest level specific radioactivity in rats of all age groups.     

Effects of hepato-protective agents thioctacid and flavobion on histones in intact and regenerating liver of irradiated rats]

The changes in concentration, total content of histones and relative proportion of individual histone fractions in intact and regenerating liver were followed in rats after administration of hepatoprotective agents flavobion and thioctacid and after whole-body gamma irradiation with a dose 5.7 Gy. We found that thioctacid alone caused an increase in histone concentration in intact liver whereas flavobion alone did not produce significant quantitative changes. Irradiation alone decreased markedly the concentration and total content of histones in intact as well as regenerating liver of unprotected rats. Administration of thioctacid or flavobion protected from these quantitative histone changes or alleviated them considerably. In relative proportion of individual histone fractions, the most profound changes were found in H1 histone after flavobion application.     

Changes in the level of pyrimidine nucleoside phosphates in the liver of irradiated rats

Content of uridyl and cytidyl nucleoside-phosphates in the liver of rats irradiated by gamma-rays (60Co) in a dose of 774 mC/kg (3000 P) was studied 0.5, 1, 3, 6 and 24 h after the effect. A trustworthy decrease of UTP and CTP as well as UDP and CDP content 24 h after irradiation was found. The number of pyrimidine nucleoside monophosphates increases after 24 h of the effect.     

Changes in histones and transcription in the nuclei of sympathetic neurons in rats of various ages under the action of testosterone

A study of chromatin in KSTG neurocytes revealed the most remarkable changes of template activity after testosterone administration in 9 days old rats and less significant changes in adult rats. No changes were detected in 19 days old rats. The pattern of silver staining of the nuclei did not differ from the control in all age groups. The possible role of testosterone in differentiation of KSTG neurocytes in early postnatal period as well as the stage-related differences in mechanisms of the hormone action during ontogenesis are discussed.     

Changes in the composition of DNA-bound nonhistone protein in the thymus and liver of gamma-irradiated rats

A supramolecular DNA complex (SC DNA) and DNA of a phenol nuclear matrix (PNM DNA) were extracted, by the phenol method, from rat thymus and liver 15 min following 10 Gy gamma-irradiation. The method of electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel was used to study a composition of nonhistone proteins firmly bound to these DNA fractions. Irradiation was shown to induce the occurrence of new proteins and redistribution of proteins between SC DNA and PNN DNA of rat organs.     

Immunofluorescent localization of lysine-rich histones in isolated nuclei from adult and embryonic chicken erythrocytes

Isolated nuclei from adult chicken erythrocytes were stained by indirect immunofluorescence for histones H5 and H1. Nuclei in 0.15 M NaCl stained for H5 showed internuclear variations in intensity of fluorescence from bright to dim. Most individual nuclei were homogeneously stained although some showed a bright rim around a dimmer interior. Treatment of nuclei with Tween 80 in 0.15 or 0.03 M NaCl also gave internuclear variation in intensity. Adult nuclei stained for H1 (in 0.15 or 0.03 M NaCl) showed little internuclear variation; most nuclei stained brightly with a brighter rim. Simultaneous staining of H5 and H1 in the same nuclei confirmed the variable fluorescence of H5 and consistent fluorescence of H1. Most nuclei showed the presence of both histones. Nuclei from embryonic blood cells also showed considerable internuclear variation of H5 fluorescence and less variation with H1 staining. For both histones the proportion of brightly staining nuclei increased with embryonic development. Difficulties in interpreting quantitative variations in immunofluorescence are discussed.     

Role of alkaline endonucleases in the release of soluble chromatin from thymus, spleen and liver nuclei of normal and irradiated mice.

Thymus, spleen and liver nuclei released a large fraction of soluble chromatin in vitro when incubation was carried out in sucrose media containing low concentrations of CaCl2 and/or MgCl2. A significant fraction of deoxyribopolynucleotides (DPN) was also extracted from nuclei. After 30 min of incubation at 37 degrees C, the maximum release of soluble chromatin was observed near a pH of 8, which corresponds to the optimum pH of the alkaline endonuclease activity from thymus, spleen and liver. The soluble chromatin and DPN were precipitated by increasing the bivalent ion concentration of the medium. The protein/DNA ratio and the molecular weight of DNA suggest that the soluble chromatin and DPN represent nucleosome-like particles. The release of soluble chromatin in the first 4 hours of incubation was significantly increased if the nuclear fraction was isolated from the thymus and spleen of whole-body irradiated mice (1000 rad). This effect was absent in the liver nuclei.