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Effects of polyamines on higher-order folding of in situ chromatin

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Abstract

Modifications of the higher-order chromatin structure induced by polyamines have been quantitatively investigated in situ through a non-invasive biophysical approach using Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Quantitative Fluorescence Microscopy. Calorimetric and intensitometric profiles have been acquired for samples of native thymocytes, alternatively suspended in buffers, with or without natural polyamines (spermine and spermidine). The results here reported show that the structure and distribution of nuclear chromatin in situ considerably change upon the ionic composition of the environment. A quantitative analysis of this data and a comparison with previous results obtained from isolated chromatin fibers was carried out. Finally, an inverse relationship between chromatin condensation and nuclear volume was observed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Genoa, Corso Europa 30, 16132, GENOVA, Italy

    Laura Vergani, Giancarlo Mascetti & Claudio Nicolini

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  1. Laura Vergani
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  2. Giancarlo Mascetti
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  3. Claudio Nicolini
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Vergani, L., Mascetti, G. & Nicolini, C. Effects of polyamines on higher-order folding of in situ chromatin. Mol Biol Rep 25, 237–244 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006937212430

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