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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

A Cell Free Assay to Study Chromatin Decondensation at the End of Mitosis
Published on: December 19, 2015
The condensation of DNA by chromium (III) ions
R Osterberg1, D Persson, G Bjursell
1Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden.
Abstract:
Cr(III), one of the most potent inorganic carcinogens, induces condensation of DNA into a very compact product at 37 degrees, as shown by electron microscopy. The condensation begins with the appearing of some supercoil structures and complete condensation occurs at relatively low Cr(III) concentrations; for 3 and 30 mM ionic strength they are 4.5 and 45 microM, respectively. Under these conditions, Cr(III) inhibits the interaction between ethidium and DNA as shown by absorption and fluorescence spectra.
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