In vitro transcription of a chromatin-like complex of major core protein VII and DNA of adenovirus serotype 2.

Major core protein VII of adenovirus serotype 2 (Ad2) is thought to play a role as a histone octamer in eukaryotic cells. We compared the template activity of the VII-DNA complex formed in vitro with that of protein-free DNA. Hybridization assay of in vitro transcripts showed that transcription from regions located in the middle of Ad2 DNA decreased when Ad2 DNA formed a complex with VII. This suggests that the chromatin structure plays a role in regulation of transcription of the adenovirus genome.