STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF RAT THYMUS DEOXYRIBONUCLEOPROTEIN - ELECTRON-MICROSCOPE STUDIES

An electron-microscope study of rat thymus deoxyribonucleoprotein and DNA has been made. The effects of added enzymes on deoxyribonucleoprotein have been studied and samples of deoxyribonucleoprotein prepared by different methods have been compared. Particles having an ordered structure have been found in deoxyribonucleoprotein which had been maintained at a high concentration during the original preparation (Type I deoxyribonucleoprotein). The order is destroyed after treatment with deoxyribonuclease or proteolytic enzymes. Deoxyribonucleoprotein maintained at a low concentration during the original preparation resembles Type I deoxyribonucleoprotein subjected to limited proteolytic enzyme action. DNA resembles Type I deoxyribonucleoprotein subjected to extensive proteolytic enzyme action. © 1969.