Cross-linking between histones and DNA following treatment with a series of dimethane sulphonate esters.

The cross-linking of the nucleohistone to the associated DNA by a series of methanesulphonates of the busulphan series (CH3SO2O(CH2)nOSO2CH3) from n = 4-9 has been studied by gel electrophoresis, by the use of 35S labelling and by pyrenemaleimide competition. It has been shown that all the dimethanesulphonates react with the Cys 114 of histone H3, and that octamethylene dimethanesulphonate (n = 8) cross-links histone H3 with DNA via the sulphydryl group, as well as forming H3-H3 dimers.