Chemical modification of eukaryotic cell chromatin, directed at d(GT)n-repeats of DNA

DNA and proteins of chromatin from eukaryotic cells were specifically modified by an alkylating derivative of pd(AC)6 (complementary to d(GT) repeats of DNA) containing a 4-(N-methyl-N-2-chlorethylamino)benzylamine residue on its 5'-end. It was shown that the efficiency of modification of both DNA and proteins increases in the presence of spermine and spermidine and sharply decreases after preliminary treatment of chromatin by nuclease S1 under conditions of mild cleavage of single-stranded DNA regions. It was suggested that one of the reasons for the presence of unwound d(GT)n stretches in chromatin DNA accessible for interaction with the complementary oligonucleotide is the B-->Z transition. Proteins specifically alkylated within the chromatin, which most likely are located in the regions of local unwinding of DNA, near the repeats, were analyzed.