Magnesium induced activation of endogenous nucleases from isolated yeast nuclei: liberation of chromatin fragments of mono- and oligo- nucleosome size

Isolated yeast nuclei were subjected to autodigestion by Mg2(+)-activated endogenous nucleases. The nuclear digests were analysed for their chromatin components. Gel electrophoresis and melting temperature analyses revealed the presence of DNA organized into nucleosomes. Our results demonstrate that magnesium activated endogenous endonucleases of yeast digest the chromatin into mono- and oligo- nucleosomal size fragments.