Nucleosome dissociation at physiological ionic strengths

Monomer nucleosomes purified on isokinetic sucrose gradients are shown to dissociate into component DNA and histones at physiological ionic strength upon dilution to a DNA concentration below 20 microgram/ml. The starting material is 11S, contains 145-190 BP DNA, and equimolar amounts of the four core histones with slightly less H1. Dilution of monomers in the presence of 0.14 M NaCl results in the rapid conversion of 10-40% of the 3H thymidine labeled material from 11S to 5S (5S is coincident with the S value of monomer length DNA). The proportion of nucleosomes which dissociate increases with increasing NaCl concentration between 0.15 M and 0.35 M and decreases with increasing DNA concentration above 1 microgram/ml. Recycling 11S monomers, which remain after dissociation, through a second dilution in salt generates an equivalent proportion of 5S material as seen after the initial dilution. Thus, the dissociation does not result from special properties of a subset of nucleosomes. An equilibrium between intact monomer and free DNA and histones appears to be rapidly established under the conditions described and the dissociated DNA will reassociate with histones to form 11S monomers if conditions of high DNA concentration and low ionic strength are established.