THE EFFECT OF ADRIAMYCIN ON SALT FRACTIONATED CHROMATIN

In this study calf thymus chromatin was fractionated into active (S1 and S2) and inactive (P 2) chromatin. Then the interaction of an anthracyc1ine antibiotic, adriamycin, with these fractions was investigated employing absorption and difference UV Nis spectroscopy and SDS and agarose gel electrophoreses. The results suggest that the binding of adriamycin to the S 1 fraction is slight but S2 and P 2 were considerably affected by drug action. In both cases the absorbances at 260 and 480 nm were decreased. As drug concentration is increased in the mixture, core his tones are aggregated and coprecipitate with the chromatin. The extent of condensation in P2 is higher when compared to the S2 fraction.