An RNA-histone complex in mammalian cells: the isolation and characterization of a new RNA species.

Abstract

Basic proteins of rat liver nuclei isolated by the cesium chloride density gradient method had a sharp banding profile on equilibrium centrifugation. The density at which the protein banded was the same reported by Huang and Bonner in their studies on pea seedling histones. An RNA species intimately associated with the nuclear histone fraction was found. The RNA of the RNA-histone complex was RNase-insensitive when bound to histone but sensitive to the enzyme when removed from the protein. The RNA was heterogeneous when studied by the sucrose density gradient technique and its calculated base ratio indicated a high adenine and uridine content. These observations indicate that this RNA is not ribosomal or transfer RNA.