Figure 8.

Gel retardation assays of protein:mini-cTAR DNA complexes formed in vitro. Mini-cTAR ³²P-DNAs were incubated in presence of NC (A) or NC(11-55) (B) and analyzed by electrophoresis on a 14% polyacrylamide gel as described in ‘Materials and Methods’ section. Lanes 1, controls mini-cTAR dimerization induced by NC or NC(11-55) at a protein to nucleotide molar ratio of 1:1 [NC and NC(11-55) were removed by phenol/chloroform before gel electrophoresis]. Lanes 2, heat-denatured mini-cTAR DNAs. Lanes 3, controls without protein; lanes 4–7, protein to nucleotide molar ratios were 1:8, 1:4, 1:2 and 1:1. Monomeric and dimeric forms of free mini-cTAR DNAs are indicated by fm and fd, respectively. CI indicates the protein:mini-cTAR complexes. CII indicates the high molecular mass protein:mini-cTAR complexes (aggregates). (C) The graph was derived from the experiments shown in (A). (D) The graph was derived from the experiments shown in (B). Symbols: filled circles, wt; open circles, LS; open squares, IN2.