Transcription of chemically acetylated chromatin with homologous RNA polymerase B

Homologous RNA polymerase B was used to examine the template properties of rat liver chromatin modified by acetic anhydride. Transcription of chromatin was strongly stimulated on the chemically acetylated template. Under conditions of reinitiation inhibition there was an approximately two-fold increase in the number of initiation sites on the acetylated chromatin. A new method of chemical acetylation of histones, with a high degree of specificity, is presented.