[Analysis of cellular nucleoproteins by nucleoprotein-celite-chromatography. I. Structural rearrangements of the chromosomal apparatus coupled with cellular quiescence-growth transitions].

By using the nucleoprotein-celite-chromatography of unfractionated cell lysates it was found that two alternative states of the chromosomal apparatus of eukaryotic cells exist, one of them being characteristic of resting cells (relaxed form), while another of growing cells (stabilized form). This finding evidences for the real occurrence of a special state of cellular quiescence, G0. DNA in form beta is much more tightly associated with proteins than DNA alpha. Upon cellular transitions from resting to growing state and vice versa the coupled rearrangements of chromosomal apparatus were observed, judging from corresponding chromatographic patterns. One state or another characterizes the chromosomal apparatus as a whole, rather than some of its subfractions. The tight DNA-protein interactions were observed in proliferating cells independent of the cell cycle phase.