Chemically induced gene activation: Selective increase in DNAase I susceptibility in chromatin acetylated with acetyl adenylate

Treatment of calf thymus chromatin with acetyl adenylate under appropriate conditions produces acetylation of histones. The pattern of histone acetylation obtained is similar to that produced $\text{in}$$\text{vivo}$. The acetylated chromatin shows increased sensitivity to DNAase I but no increased sensitivity to Staphylococcal nuclease. These digestion patterns are similar to those observed in active genes.