Chromatin structure in barley nuclei

In order to study the chromatin structure of a higher plant we used a high‐yield method, which allows one to obtain up to 109 nuclei/kg fresh barley leaves. Significant amounts of low‐ionic‐strength‐soluble chromatin can be extracted from these nuclei. Physicochemical properties were examined and discussed. Electric birefringence allowed us to observe the same transition in electro‐optical properties as has been observed for animal chromatin, and suggested the existence of a symetrical structure occurring for approximately six nucleosomes. Circular dichroism showed that barley oligonucleosomes exhibit a higher molar ellipticity at 282 nm than total soluble chromatin and than their animal counterparts.