The Binding of Fluorochromes and Proteins to Cellulose-immobilized Nucleic Acids.

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Abstract
Columns containing DNA [Escherichia coli, Micrococcus lysodeikticus, Clostridium perfringens, calf thymus, mouse liver] immobilized to cellulose were used to determine the quantity of fluorochromes and proteins bound to nucleic acids. The amount of dye bound to the DNA was directly proportional to the AT base content of the polymer. Of the 3 acridine derivatives tested, acranil had the highest, quinacrine mustard the lowest and quinacrine intermediate affinity for the nucleic acids. The affinity of the dye Hoechst 33258 varied in relation to the AT base content of the polymer. The higher the AT base content of the DNA, the more poly-L-lysine and the less poly-L-arginine was bound. Binding of polyamino acids or [calf thymus] histones to the cellulose-immobilized DNA partly or wholly prevented the subsequent binding of dyes. Poly-L-lysine was more effective than poly-L-arginine in blocking the dye-binding to DNA. Complete blocking was obtained with protamine. Of the 3 histone fractions tested, the lysine-rich fraction was twice as effective in blocking dye binding as the intermediate fraction or the arginine-rich fraction.