Emergence of the Extrachromosomal Circular DNA Complexes as One of the Earliest Signals of Cellular Differentiation in the Early Development of Mouse Embryo

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Abstract
A small number of mouse embryos and embryonal carcinoma cells were pressed by mica sheet; then the extruded DNA complexes were adsorbed to mica and processed for EM. Extrachromosomal circular DNA complexes longer than 1 .mu.m emerged during the compaction process of mouse embryos and during the differentiation of embryonal carcinoma cells induced with retinoic acid. These DNA molecules are discussed as possible products of developmental gene rearrangements occurring in the chromosomal DNA.