Influence of antibodies against DNA on the renaturation of DNA.

The treatment of denatured T4 phage DNA with antiserum for the DNA of this phage, containing antibodies against glucosylated 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, decreases the ability of DNA for renaturation. The greatest inhibiting activity is possessed by antiserum for T4 phage DNA irradiated with UV light, which contains antibodies not only against glucosylated 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, but also against the usual nitrogen bases. Antiserum against E. coli DNA, containing antibodies to the usual nitrogen bases, in equal dilutions with the antisera indicated above, shows less inhibitory activity on the renaturation of T4 phage DNA.