Nuclear proteins and chromatin ultrastructure in normal and CLL lymphocytes.

Histones and non-hìstone chromosomai proteins (NHCP) of normai and CLL Iymphocytes were characterized respectively by polyacryIamide and SDS- poIyacryIamide eIectrophoresis. Purified B normai and CLL, monoclonal B Iymphocytes were examined by eIectron microscope for a quantitative evaluation of heterochromatin contento The results indicate distinct differences between NHCP of B and CLL lympho- cytes as well as an increase both of F3 histone and heterochromatin in CLL Iymphocytes. A possibie reiation between these characteristic nuc1ear features and the ac- cumulation of immunologically incompetent Iymphocytes in the course of CLL is suggested