PHOSPHORYLATION AND METHYLATION OF CHROMATIN PROTEINS FROM MOUSE BRAIN NUCLEI

Abstract— Chromatin protein kinase and histone methyltransferase are present in two nuclear populations, neuronal and oligodendroglial. At least 30% of the enzymes are tightly bound to chromatin. The specific activities of both enzymes are higher in neuronal populations than in oligodendroglial. Protein kinase from these nuclear populations phosphorylates endogenous protein; however, the methyltransferase requires exogenous histone as substrate. The methyltransferase from both nuclear populations preferentially methylates lysine‐rich histone.