Histone H1 in nuclei of butyrate-treated murine lymphosarcoma cells has increased affinity for heparin

Nuclei from butyrate-treated murine lymphosarcoma cells were incubated with different amounts of the polyanion heparin, which is known to interact predominantly with chromatin-associated histones. Unlike isolated histone H1, histone H1 in the nuclei of butyrate-treated cells was found to display an enhanced affinity for the binding to heparin as compared to histone H1 from control cells. Dephosphorylation of histone H1 as a result of butyrate treatment of the cells is discussed as a possible factor involved in the observed higher affinity of the protein for heparin.