Distribution of tight DNA-protein complexes along the barley chromosome 1H, as revealed by microsatellite marker analysis

The distribution of DNA complexes with proteins resistant to routine deproteinisation procedures (tightly bound proteins, TBP) was studied on the barley chromosome 1H by means of microsatellite analysis. The polypeptide spectrum of the barley shoot TBP was similar to that formerly described for other organisms. In order to reveal developmental changes in the distribution of the TBP, DNA was extracted from dry grains, coleoptiles, root tips, and young and old leaves. In the seeds, all the studied DNA sites were evenly distributed between free DNA and DNA containing the tight DNA-protein complexes. Germination made the interaction between TBP and chromosomal loci specific. In coleoptile DNA, sites containing microsatellites located in the distal part of the long arm of the chromosome were not bound to the TBP anymore, however, the centromeric markers were found exclusively in the tight DNA-protein complexes. A similar but not identical distribution of markers was observed in the root tips and young leaves. Leaf senescence was accompanied by a loss in interaction specificity between chromosomal loci and tightly bound proteins. These results are considered to reflect changes in chromatin domain interaction with the nuclear matrix during plant development.