Histone mediated changes in morphology and confluent density of cultured cells

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Abstract
Calf thymus histones and histone subfractions were added to media overlying subconfluent mouse fibroblast cells in culture. The histones caused significantly higher cell densities at confluence than control cultures and disruption of the normal ordered arrangement of cells. These changes were seen on application of histones to growing cells but not confluent cells and were reversed when the histones were removed and the cells replated with more growth area. The slightly lysine rich histone fraction had the greatest effect and the lysine rich fraction had the least effect on cell morphology and cell number at confluence. These effects could not be duplicated with other highly charged basic proteins.