| Abstract: | Using UV-induced cross-linking between proteins and DNA, the contacts between single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSB proteins) and chromatin DNA have been demonstrated. Ehrlich ascites tumour DNA was labeled in vivo by inoculation of tumour-bearing mice with 3H-thymidine. The cells were irradiated with the UV light dose of 3000 J/m2, destroyed in a Triton X-100-containing hypotonic medium, and separated by centrifugation into the extrachromatin fraction and chromatin. Chromatin DNA was digested with DNAase 1, and the chromatin proteins were extracted with 2 M NaCl-polyethyleneglycol. SSB proteins from the extrachromatin fraction and chromatin were purified. Only SSB proteins from UV-irradiated cell chromatin appeared to possess a high specific radioactivity which exceeded 7.5-fold that of non-irradiated cells. There were no differences between chromatin SSB proteins in control and irradiated cells as could be evidenced from SDS electrophoresis data. It is assumed that in irradiated cells SSB proteins of DNA-digested chromatin are covalently cross-linked with DNA fragments. |
