Changes in the cytochemical properties of erythrocyte nuclei reactivated by cell fusion.

When the nucleus of a chick erythrocyte is introduced into the cytoplasm of a HeLa cell it resumes the synthesis of RNA and DNA. This reactivation of the red cell nucleus is associated with an increase in volume and with changes in nuclear composition. These changes have now been studied by quantitative cytochemical techniques. During the process of reactivation the dry mass of the erythrocyte nucleus shows a marked increase which takes place largely before the replication of the DNA begins. Within 24 h of cell fusion, some erythrocyte nuclei already contain an increased amount of DNA, and 48 h after fusion many of them contain twice the normal diploid amount, thus indicating that they have replicated their DNA completely. The physical properties of the nuclear deoxyribonucleoprotein complex also change. The ability of the nuclear chromatin to bind acridine orange increases 4to 5-fold well before the synthesis of DNA begins; and changes in the melting profile of the deoxyribonucleoprotein suggest that its structure is loosened. This view is also supported by the observation that the reactivity of the erythrocyte nuclei to the Feulgen stain is altered during the early stages of reactivation.