Temporal changes in chromatin isolated from Friend virus-infected mouse spleens.

Differences noted in enzyme II directed RNA synthesis under varying salt conditions in nuclei isolated from uninfected and Friend virus (FV)-infected spleen cells, have been attributed to chromosomal modifications (Babcock and Rich 1973). This investigation was undertaken to determine if compositional changes occur in the chromatin of FV-infected spleens, which correlate with an altered rate of synthesis by enzyme II. A quantitative study of the chromatin constituents at various times after infection indicated that they vary in the same temporal manner as the rate of RNA synthesis in isolated nuclei. Relative to DNA, RNA, histone, and nonhistone protein reached a maximum at 14 days postinfection. This was followed by a gradual decrease during the remainder of the infection. Chromatin endogenous DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity varied in the same manner, suggesting that RNA synthesis directed by enzyme II is modulated by chromosomal proteins.