This study attempted to characterize
proteins cross-linked to
DNA of Yoshida
lymphosarcoma cells treated with
methylene dimethanesulfonate (MDMS) and its hydrolytic products
formaldehyde (HCHO) and
methanesulfonic acid (MSA). MDMS and HCHO treatments produced a similar extent and type of
DNA-
protein cross-linking in Yoshida
lymphosarcoma cells. All five major
histones (H1, H2a, H2b, H3, and H4) were among the
nuclear proteins cross-linked to
DNA. Certain discrete differences were also apparent in these studies. MDMS cross-linked
proteins of 29 and 48 kDa to
DNA that were not observed following HCHO treatment alone, and HCHO cross-linked a 26-kDa
protein to
DNA that was not observed following MDMS treatment. Because
semicarbazide prevented all MDMS-induced
DNA-
protein cross-linking, HCHO must be the component responsible for this lesion. The 26-kDa
protein has been identified as an H4-H2b dimer. The formation of this dimer is particularly sensitive to MSA release on hydrolysis of MDMS because, in the presence of MSA, HCHO preferentially cross-linked an H2a-H2b dimer and a 48-kDa non-
histone protein to
DNA. Differences in
DNA-
protein cross-linking between these two agents are therefore proposed to arise from discrete changes in
chromatin structure induced directly by MSA release.