Aldosterone-Induced Alterations in the Synthesis of Renal Cortical Chromatin Components and Acetylation of Histones

Summary

This investigation was undertaken in order to obtain some knowledge of the mechanism by which aldosterone brings about known increases in the rates of RNA synthesis in the nuclei of the kidney cortex by attempting to study the changes in the synthesis of the chromatin components as well as changes in the acetylation of histones. Specificity of gene activation and repression in eukaryotes is believed to involve these chromatin components and the acetylation of histones. The present data suggests that following aldosterone administration there appears to be a generalized sequential increase in the synthesis of the nonhistone proteins, RNA, and histones in the chromatin material. Furthermore the mineralocorticoid treatment leads to a very early increase in the rate of histone acetylation.