A Chromatographic Study of the Deoxyribonucleic Acids From Normal and Leukemic Human Tissues2

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Abstract
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was prepared from normal human spleen and from the leukocytes of normal human donors as well as from patients with chronic lymphatic and granulocytic leukemia. The samples were found to be essentially indistinguishable in base, nitrogen, phosphorus, sodium, and water contents and in molecular extinction coefficient with respect to phosphorus (ɛP). However, the samples differed significantly from each other when examined by anion-exchange chromatography. It is concluded that the DNA of leukemic leukocytes differs chromatographically from that of normal white cells. Evidence is presented for a direct action in vivo of the alkylating agent methanesulfonic acid, tetramethylene ester (Myleran), on the DNA of the leukocytes from 2 patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia who had been treated with the agent.