Tissue-specific pattern of nonhistone high mobility group proteins in various organs of the chicken.

Electrophoretic analysis of tissue-specific differences of nonhistone high mobility group (HMG) proteins from nuclei of various organs of the chicken revealed that in organs with a higher proportion of replicating cells (thymus, Bursa Fabricii, spleen) the relative amount of HMG-17 is considerably higher than that of HMG-14; however, in transcriptionally active organs with a very small proportion of replicating cells (glandular stomach, liver) HMG-14 and HMG-17 are present at roughly equal and low amounts. In glandular stomach, liver and spleen, the relative contents of both HMG-1 and HMG-2 are markedly lower than in thymus and Bursa Fabricii. Moreover, the total amount of HMG proteins is higher in those organs which contain replicating lymphocytes.