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Methods of denaturation and renaturation of DNA in interphasic chromatin: cytochemical quantitative analysis by Methyl Green staining

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Almost diploid nuclei (as judged from the microdensitometric evaluation of the Feulgen positive material) of granular and Purkinje cells of the rat cerebellar cortex, were submitted toin situ DNA denaturation and renaturation experiments.

We assessed the double-strandedness of DNA, by Methyl Green staining according to Scott (1967). Under these conditions a stoichiometric ratio between bound dye and DNA exists, suitable for quantitative micrdensitometric measurments. Our data show that the DNA in the interphasic chromatin is never completely denatured after the treatments we used. Furthermore, the renaturation takes place in a different way in the two cell types.

Owing to the unlike chromatin packing of granular and Purkinje nuclei, we suggest that nuclear proteins must interfere differently on thein situ denaturation and renaturation processes.

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Pellicciari, C., Fraschini, A. Methods of denaturation and renaturation of DNA in interphasic chromatin: cytochemical quantitative analysis by Methyl Green staining. Histochem J 10, 213–222 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01003306

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01003306

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