The similarity of histones from turtle erythrocytes and liver

Abstract

Using the fresh-water "red-eared turtle" Pseudomys scriptans elegans, we have confirmed the existence of a minor component H1s among the lysine-rich histones of turtle erythrocytes by three forms of gel electrophoresis and two forms of chromatography. It was separated from the major components by both cation-exchange chromatography and molecular-exclusion chromatography and shown to differ slightly but significantly in content of several amino acids as well as being shorter than the other lysine-rich histones. Although its composition is close to that of the "tissue-specific" F1b of sea turtle erythrocytes, it is present in even greater relative amount in red-eared turtle livers. In most respects it resembles the satellite histone H10 of mammalian tissues. No unusual histones were observed among the perchloric acid insoluble histones of turtle erythrocytes.