THE EFFECT OF MECHLOROETHAMIN ON RECONSTITUTED CHROMATIN

In this study the effect of a methylated derivative of nitrogen mustard (mechloroethamin) on solubilized and reconstituted chromatin was investigated using UVNis spectroscopy, DNA and SDS gel electrophoresis and densitomeoic scanning techniques, The results indicated that the 210 and 260 nm absorbances of reconstituted chromatin were decreased in a dose-dependent manner after treatment with various concentrations of mechloroethamin. Alkylated chromatin showed difficulty in producing nucleosomes in comparison to the control, therefore a 50% reduction in absorbances was obtained. The amount of both core histone protein and DNA in the supernatant was decreased with increasing drug concentrations. It is suggested that mechloroethamin alters the interaction of ON A protein in the chromatin by producing cross-links between DNA and protein or protein and protein.