[Chromosome fractionation. II. Features of the composition and behavior of biphasic polymer systems of metaphase chromosomes obtained from HeLa cells at acidic and neutral pH values]

Metaphase chromosomes (MCh) isolated at pH 2.1 and 6.5 slightly differ in their composition and contain in average: 17% of DNA, 9% of RNA and 74% of protein. The three-fold increase of protein content in MCh was not accompanied by the change in nonhistone protein composition. The behaviour of chromosomes isolated at pH 2.1 (acid) and 6.5 (neutral) in two-phase polymer system is shown to be very similar. The function of certain chromosome components in the determination of MCh behaviour in two-phase systems and possible usefulness of acid and neutral MCh for fractionation of total MCh are discussed.