[Study of peripheral chromatin granules--anchorosomes]

The granular particles of chromatin peripheral layer, were isolated together, with the nuclear envelope by treatment of nuclei with nuclease. These particles differ from total chromatin by a decreased content of histone H1, a specific set of minor acid-soluble proteins and a low DNA methylation level. Taking account of the fact that these particles facilitate chromatin interaction with the nuclear envelope, the latter were termed as "anchorosomes". Using UV-induced cross-linking of DNA to the proteins, it was found that all anchorosome-specific acid-soluble proteins can directly interact with anchorosomal DNA. Treatment of anchorosomes with staphylococcal nuclease and electron microscopic data showed that anchorosomes have a nucleosomal organization. Five to ten per cent of anchorosomal DNA appear to be firmly bound to nuclear lamina. This DNA cannot be separated from the lamina by treatment with 2 M NaCl, 1% SDS or heparin (1 mg/ml). The bulk of DNA in the laminal fraction after treatment with the above reagents is protected from hydrolysis with DNAase I by anchorosomal proteins and thus has a high molecular weight (10,000-30,000 base pairs). After treatment of anchorosomes with 0.6 M or 2 M NaCl, DNAase I splits this DNA, predominantly to minor fragments.