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. 1981 Jun 11;9(11):2455–2474. doi: 10.1093/nar/9.11.2455

Quantitation of DNase I sensitivity in Xenopus chromatin containing active and inactive globin, albumin and vitellogenin genes.

B K Felber, S Gerber-Huber, C Meier, F E May, B Westley, R Weber, G U Ryffel
PMCID: PMC326864  PMID: 6269050

Abstract

The disappearance of defined restriction fragments of the beta 1-globin, an albumin and the A1 vitellogenin gene was quantitated after DNase I digestion and expressed by a sensitivity factor defined by a mathematical model. Analysis of naked DNA showed that the gene fragments have similar but not identical sensitivity factors. DNase I digestion of chromatin revealed for the same gene fragments sensitivity factors differing over a much wilder range. This is correlated to the activity of the genes analyzed: the beta 1-globin gene fragment is more sensitive to DNase I in chromatin of erythrocytes compared to hepatocytes whereas the albumin gene fragment is more sensitive to DNase I in chromatin of hepatocytes. The A1 vitellogenin gene has the same DNase I sensitivity in both cell types. Comparing the DNase I sensitivity of the three genes in their inactive state we suggest that different chromatin conformations may exist for inactive genes.

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Selected References

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