DNA loop domain organization in nucleoids from cells of different types.

The loop domain organization of chromatin plays an important role in transcription regulation and thus may be assumed to vary in cells of different types. We investigated the kinetics of DNA loop migration during single cell gel electrophoresis (the comet assay) for nucleoids obtained from human lymphocytes, lymphoblasts and glioblastoma T98G cells. The results confirm our previous observation that there are three parts of DNA in nucleoids: DNA on the nucleoid surface, loops up to ∼150 kb inside the nucleoid, and larger loops that cannot migrate.

Single nucleus versus single-cell gel electrophoresis: kinetics of DNA track formation.

Single-cell gel electrophoresis, or the comet assay, is usually performed with nucleoids prepared after a lysis of either whole cells (more often) or isolated cell nuclei (rarely). Electrophoretic properties of the second type of nucleoids have never been investigated carefully. We measured the kinetics of the DNA exit from nuclei-derived nucleoids in comparison with cell-derived nucleoids.

DNA loop domain organization as revealed by single-cell gel electrophoresis.

At higher order levels chromatin is organized into loops. This looping, which plays an important role in transcription regulation and other processes, remains poorly understood. We investigated the kinetics of DNA loop migration during single cell gel electrophoresis (the comet assay).