Evidence for the association of core histones with poly(U) to nucleosome-like complexes

As was shown in a recent paper [Klump, H. & Hütig, H. (1980) Ber. Bunsenges. Phys. Chem. 84, 250-253] by one of the authors (H.K.), nucleosome-like histone complexes can be formed on ribopolynucleotides as well as on deoxyribopolynucleotides. The conditions used for complex formation have to be such that single strands and triple strands as secondary structures of the polynucleotides employed are excluded under all ionic-strength conditions. There is clear evidence however for ordered poly(U)/histone complexes. In this paper we further characterize these poly(U) complexes and present electron micrographs of both DNA histone complexes and poly(U) histone complexes to show their close resemblance.