Viscoelastic analysis of high molecular weight, alkali-denatured DNA from mouse 3T3 cells

Alkaline lysates of mouse 3T3 cells showed viscoelastic properties characteristic of very large molecules of single-stranded DNA. The viscoelastic retardation time and the sensitivity to low doses of nitrogen mustard and of X-irradiation suggest a molecular weight in excess of 10-10 daltons. Contact-inhibited cells yielded larger single strands than actively growing cells.