Electronic Resource
Springer
European biophysics journal
13 (1986), S. 367-372
ISSN:
1432-1017
Keywords:
Neutron small angle scattering
;
X-ray small angle scattering
;
chromatin structure
;
cell nuclei
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Neutron and X-ray small angle scattering techniques have been applied to study chromatin structure inside different types of cell nuclei. A. Scattering from genetically inactive chicken erythrocyte nuclei exhibits a maximum at Q=0.1–0.15 nm-1 which cannot be observed by studying isolated chromatin derived from the same kind of cells. In highly active transcribing rat liver nuclei such a nuclear pattern is absent. B. The radius of gyration of isolated “superbeads” was determined. It is discussed whether the characteristic maximum of the nuclei originates from this superstructural organisation of chromatin. C. Rat liver nuclei were fractionated on sucrose gradients in order to determine whether the absence of the extra maximum in scattering profiles of these nuclei is due to overlapping effects of different chromatin organisation in the various cell types of the liver. As compared to unfractionated nuclei no strong deviations in the scattering profiles of the fractions could be observed. D. Erythrocyte nuclei were dialysed in buffers differing in the ionic strength of monovalent cations. The typical maximum from the nuclei is shifted from 60 nm (very low salt concentration) to about 35 nm (physiological ionic strength) and is linearly proportional to the decreasing radius of the nuclei. In conclusion, chromatin structure inside the nucleus has a scattering maximum due to an ordered packing of the fibres which is absent in nuclei with high genetic activity.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00265672
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