Binding of ethidium bromide causes dissociation of the nucleosome core particle

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 Nov;83(22):8472-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.83.22.8472.

Abstract

The binding of ethidium bromide to chicken erythrocyte core particles results in a step-wise dissociation of the structure that involves the initial release of one copy each of histones H2A and H2B. Quantitation of the dissociated DNA reveals that a critical amount of drug is required for the dissociation. Above the critical value, the dissociation is time dependent, reversible, and independent of DNA concentration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chickens
  • DNA / analysis
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Ethidium / metabolism*
  • Histones / analysis
  • Intercalating Agents / metabolism*
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Nucleosomes / analysis
  • Nucleosomes / metabolism*

Substances

  • Histones
  • Intercalating Agents
  • Nucleosomes
  • DNA
  • Ethidium