Cell specificity of β -histones from the ox

Abstract

β -Histones have been prepared from cell nuclei isolated from the thymus, liver, spleen and heart of the ox. Determinations of their amino-acid contents show that, while they are all very similar in composition, differences are present which justify the conclusion that they are cell specific. The total histones from the cell nuclei of the heart resembles the products from other cells in containing subsidiary histones. These comprise an α -fraction and two γ -components, the latter differing in electrophoretic mobility from those present in the total histone from calf thymocytes.