On the chromatin structure of Trypanosoma cruzi

The chromatin structure of Trypanosoma cruzi was investigated. It was found that, as in other eukaryotes, the chromatin is organized in repeating units, the nucleosomes containing about 200 base pairs of DNA associated with histones. While there is no difference in the DNA size in nucleosomes from T. cruzi and from rat liver nuclei, the histone population of T. cruzi differs in various aspects. Of particular interest is the presence of two basic proteins, possibly histone H1 subcomponents, with very high electrophoretic mobilities.